Protecting the rights of a newborn child discovered a few days ago  requires sensitive approaches – Ombudsperson

ArmInfo. Protecting the rights of a newborn baby found several days ago requires a sensitive approach and the implementation of comprehensive measures, as noted in a statement by issued RA Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan.

Recall, the newborn girl, found on August 10 in the courtyard of a  house on Halabyan Street in Yerevan, was named Sose, in honor of Sose  Mayrig. The name was given to the child by social service  representatives. The girl will stay in the hospital until the end of  the month; after discharge, she is planned to be transferred to an  orphanage. The newborn was discovered several hours after birth.  According to doctors, the girl was born outside a medical facility  and was taken to the hospital in serious condition with hypothermia  and respiratory failure. Her body temperature dropped to 30 degrees  Celsius. The child's condition has now stabilized.

In connection with the incident, the Human Rights Defender highlights  the steps taken by competent state bodies and medical organizations,  including those aimed at protecting the child, providing medical  assistance and support.

At the same time, the Defender considers it concerning the recent  dissemination of photos and videos of the child through mass media  and social media platforms, which were taken while receiving medical  care.  Later, the name given to the child was also made public  through another publication, as a result of which additional data  allowing the identification of the child became available to the  public.

The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that each case of publication  and dissemination of information, especially regarding a child in  such a vulnerable situation, must be appreciated from the perspective  of the best interests of the child, and the best interests of the  child must have priority when covering issues of public importance.

The Defender also considers it important that in the case of the  publication or dissemination of photographs of a child and other  identifying data, the principle of proportionality of the processing  of personal data be ensured, assessing in this process not only the  public significance of the publication of information, but also its  possible impact on the child's future life. This circumstance is  necessary, considering that all the mentioned data will make it  possible to identify the person and his vulnerable state in the  future.

The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the possible consequences  of disseminating information about a child should be considered not  only at the moment, but also in the context of the child's future  life.

From this perspective, the Human Rights Defender urges all persons to  disseminate information about a child to exercise utmost caution and  sensitivity, refraining from unnecessary publication and further  dissemination of the child's photos, videos, name, and other  identifying data.

Moreover, in this regard, the Human Rights Defender institution also  cooperates with the Personal Data Protection Agency of the Ministry  of Justice. The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the Agency also  has a similar position.