Monday, May 25 2020 19:27

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.