The
Human Rights Defender expresses his concerns regarding the positive opinion
provided by the RA Government on the “Children’s City” project by Armenian
Caritas NGO. According to the Defender’s position, the project contradicts the
best interest of the child and the international commitments of Armenia.
The
project’s implementation in this way will contribute to the deepening of stereotypes
and stigma towards the
socially insecure and disabled children.
Particularly,
the Defender underlines the following main concerns:
- Transferring
children with disabilities and from different social classes from their
communities to a residence specially built for them contradicts their right
to live in a community as equal citizens (the UN Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities);
·
The
building of the city contradicts the principles of the UNICEF-supported Child
Friendly City Initiative. The establishment of Child Friendly City does not envisage
the building of isolated settlements. The study of the experience of more than 35
states indicates that all countries attaches importance to the engagement of
the entire population in establishing the Child Friendly City, rather than
building it on the principle of isolating or separating children from the
society;
- From the
perspective of children’s inclusion, the education envisaged under the
project with the sole participation of the children with limited
possibilities for education and self-development is problematic.
According
to the Human Rights Defender, the Republic of Armenia should follow the high
mission of the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The state
should support, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of rights of
persons with disabilities, as well as the respect for their dignity.
The
Defender has presented the position to the Government, recommending to amend
the draft in accordance with the best interest of the child.
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