ArmInfo.Armenian President Armen Sargsyan continues to meet with representatives of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces and public organizations, as well as with specialists from various fields to discuss the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.
According to the RA President's press service, as part of this initiative, Sargsyan today met with representatives of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction Mikael Melkumyan and Shake Isayan. At the meeting, in particular, they talked about ways and solutions to overcome the difficulties that have arisen in healthcare, the socio-economic sphere. Deputies told the president about their work and steps. The activities of parliament were also affected. In this context, Sargsyan, in particular, presented his observations on the recently ratified by the National Assembly of the Lanzarote Convention, expressing the hope that the discussions around the convention will not be the end of public discussions, but will begin and contribute to the search for worthy solutions through laws that are relevant to our state and national culture. As ArmInfo previously reported, the Armenian parliament at a meeting on May 11 approved the bill on ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children from sexual exploitation and violence. This step of the parliament was criticized in wide public circles.
The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Kristine Grigoryan, introducing the CoE Convention, recalled that it was adopted on October 25, 2007 and entered into force on July 1, 2010. It is signed by 47 countries and has entered into force in 45 states. The Republic of Armenia signed the Convention on September 29, 2010. The Convention, setting common standards and definitions applicable in all European countries, is designed to protect children from sexual exploitation and use. The objectives of the convention are the prevention and combating of sexual exploitation of children and sexual violence, the protection of the rights of children affected by sexual crimes, and the promotion of domestic and international cooperation in combating sexual exploitation and sexual violence against children.
By ratifying this Convention, the Republic of Armenia undertakes to take the necessary legislative or other measures to prevent all forms of sexual exploitation and use of children, as well as protect children, including the development and implementation of appropriate mechanisms, especially in the fields of education, health care, social services, as well as in law enforcement and judicial authorities. Cooperation between the States Parties to the Convention will be carried out with the aim of preventing and combating the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, protecting and assisting victims of violence, conducting investigations and proceedings under the Convention. Thus, ratification of the Convention will create an opportunity to introduce relevant legislative amendments to the Republic of Armenia aimed at combating the sexual exploitation of children and sexual violence, protecting the rights of children affected by sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Moreover, the ratification of the Convention will promote priority attention to ensuring the best interests of the child in all actions regarding children, and stimulate international cooperation between the parties to the Convention.