Monday, September 26 2016 16:05

ArmInfo. UNICEF Office in Armenia and National Statistical Service of Armenia have presented the first full national report on multidimensional child poverty in Armenia.

During the presentation of the report representative of UNICEF office in Armenia Tanya Radochay noted that child poverty is a multidimensional problem. "When children grow in poverty they are deprived of a lot of things, which are common for us. Because of poverty children are deprived of important and necessary life conditions, including due nutrition, education, recreation and housing. Poverty has direct impact on future of those children. It is very difficult to reduce poverty, but it is possible. The current report is aimed at defining consistent steps for reducing child poverty in Armenia", the representative of the UNICEF noted. 

The presented report is the first in its kind in the region. It was conducted by the methodology developed in UNICEF and helps to get full idea about child poverty in Armenia. Multidimensional poverty and its monitoring are part of sustainable development goals after 2015. The report was made based on the analysis of a number of criteria-nutrition, pre-school education and care, education, recreation, social relations, availability of clothes, awareness, utility and housing conditions. As children have various needs in different ages the research has been done in three main age groups:  between 0 and 5, between 6 and 14, and between 15 and 17.

"82% of children living in rural areas are disadvantaged versus 53% children living in cities. The main reason of such a sharp difference is utility services (87%) and access to information (57%). At the same time when multidimensional poverty is matched with financial one, it turns out that every third child is poor and disadvantaged.  28% of children in Armenia are in extreme poverty and they should be involved in programs of social assistance. 36% of children are in need but not poor. These children should be provided immediate help to overcome vulnerability, otherwise there is a threat that they may not be included in social policy programs aimed at overcoming only financial poverty", the report reads.

At the same time it is noted that the document contains important data not only for development of social policy but also for protection of children from risks expanding availability of services they need.