On the occasion of Children’s Day
Today, when in many countries – including Armenia – we celebrate Children’s Day we should pay particular attention to the place of children in the society and to the mechanisms of protection of their rights. There are no children, just people – claimed Polish Jew, outstanding pedagogue Janusz Korczak, indicating that children deserve rights and respect.
Probably no one who comes to Armenia has doubts about the special status of children in this country. The young Armenians are cherished by their families, but not only; more and more institutions are created for children. Boys and girls have been learning programming, robotics and the latest IT technology from an early age, and the revolution in thinking about their education spills over the country beyond the capital. More and more children not only in Yerevan but also in Dilijan, Vanadzor and other places have the chance to try their chances in new disciplines and to develop their talents. There is still much to do in this regard, especially in small towns and rural areas. Ensuring the best and equal opportunities for children is the responsibility of all of us – parents, educators, the state and the international community. Poland also has a contribution here: within the framework of Polish development assistance, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland annually finances school renovations in communities particularly vulnerable to marginalization. International solidarity requires global co-responsibility, and in a country where the word “Solidarity” has such an unique value, it especially obliges.
The issue of children and their rights is particularly close not exculusively to the Armenians. At the invitation of Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan in April this year Polish Ombudsman for Children – Marek Michalak – visited Armenia. Thanks to this meeting, both officials have had a chance to exchange their experiences, resulting from local circumstances, but also from different institutional arrangements. Child Rights Advocates now operate in more than a dozen countries around the world, and in Europe they cooperate within the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC). During the visit, Marek Michalak emphasized the importance of establishing an independent state body that could effectively protect the Convention and the rights of the child in local legislation. Ombudspersons for Children differ in their competences in different countries, but they always respect the rights and duties of parents and the best interest of the child. This goal should guide us all, regardless of nationality.
There is a consensus in the international community about the need to recognize the rights of the youngest inhabitants of the globe. Established by the Polish initiative Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed by almost all countries in the world. It certainly indicates the importance of this document. Armenia decided to join the Convention shortly after its independence in 1992 (in 1993 the decision came into force). Thereby it clearly indicates that the foundation upon which a new independent state had been to be built must be based on respect for the rights of even the youngest citizens. In the following years, Armenia also signed two additional Protocols to the Convention and other international documents guaranteeing the protection of the rights of the child. In addition, national legislation, such as the Family Code, the Labor Code and the Penal Code, have been amended successively to strengthen the protection of children from the exploitation, abuse and trafficking of human beings. Although good law does not solve all problems, efforts have been made to create a legal framework for the protection of the rights of the child.
The official regulations however often turn out to be empty unless they are followed by society’s education and awareness-raising. It is therefore very important that both Armenian authorities and local civil society take active steps to tackle the problem of gender-selective abortion. Appreciating the role of girls in society is key to giving them the opportunity to fully realize their rights. The child – regardless of gender – is an autonomous person who has his or her own interests, needs and rights. The awareness that girls and boys are equally valued for society still needs to be increased so that all children grow in self-esteem.
Particuraly worthy of attention are children from vulnerable groups – often marginalized for various reasons. Being more defenseless and facing more obstacles in developing their talens and fulfilling their dreams they deserve our interest and assistance. One of the projects aimed at helping children in a particularly difficult situation is the initiative of the Polish Armenian – Julietta Kivorkova. “Julia’s Squirrels” Foundation has been helping disabled children from orphanages in Armenia. The organization has built the dentist’s office there, so all the children living in the institution are provided with comprehensive dental care. This is possible thanks to the help of volunteers from Armenia, who several times a week treat institution’s pupils.
We are used to think about children as the future of nation. This is a mistake. Children are persons today and now, therefore we should think about them in the present tense. Today the steps are needed to be taken in order to not only ensure a happy future for them, but also a happy childhood where they could enjoy a sense of security, a family warmth and a joy of exploring the world. It is worth to unite our efforts because, as Korczak said “when a child laughs, so laughs the whole world”.
Ewa Polak
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Armenia
