Participation of children in the development and implementation of public policy

20/12/2021

The event entitled "Participation of children in the development and implementation of public policy" was held with the participation of children residing in Yerevan and the marzes.

First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan, Co-ordinator of the Juvenile Justice Programme of UNICEF Armenia Victoria Ohanyan, Head of the Department of Criminal Legislation, Penitentiary and Probation Policy Development of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Arpine Sargsyan, Head of the Personal Data Protection Agency of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Hayrapetyan and co-founder and Executive Director of Impact Innovations Institute Mariam Torosyan talked about protection and exercise of rights with children.

In her speech, First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan attached importance to the exercise of the rights of children, the audibility of children and the ensuring of involvement in the process of development of strategies. In her speech, Victoria Ohanyan stated that the voice of a child needs to be heard, and that less attention is paid to this.

During the event, the children identified the issues related to maltreatment of animals, access to educational, cultural and sports institutions in the marzes, the difficulties with organising breaks caused after the closure of cafeterias in schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as discriminatory treatment in schools.

During the meeting, the children addressed representatives of decision-making bodies their questions of concern about various sectors.

At the end of the event, Deputy Director of the "Legal Education and Rehabilitation Programmes Implementation Centre" SNCO for Rehabilitation Programmes Gayane Hovakimyan summed up the opinions of the children.

At the end of the event, the children received gifts from the UNICEF.