A protest against Lanzarote Convention going on in front of  President`s residence

ArmInfo.In Yerevan, a protest rally against the Lanzarote Convention is going on in front of the residence of the President of the Republic of Armenia.  Participants  of the rally demand that President Armen Sarkissian not sign the  relevant document, stating that this Convention contradicts national  values. In addition, dissatisfaction is also voiced with the fact  that the Convention implies the use of a number of mechanisms in the  educational sector , which, according to the protesters, may lead to  an teaching the basics of sexual education in schools. 

To note, the protest is small in number quantity, and at the moment  there are more law enforcement officers than the protesters  themselves.

To recall, on May 11, the Armenian parliament approved a bill on  ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of  Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse signed in  Lanzarote. The CE Convention 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  provided for in 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.