NUMBER OF ABANDONED CHILDREN AND THOSE SUBJECTED TO FAMILY VIOLENCE
GROWS IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The rights of children are not protected
well in Armenia. Although the number of beggar children is on the
decline in the country, the number of children who are abandoned and
have to work and those subjected to family violence has grown, Mira
Antonian, director of the Children Assistance Center of the Fund for
Armenian Relief (FAR), said at the May 30 press conference. According
to her, despite all efforts of the state, the number of abandoned
children is growing in Armenia, with poverty not being the only reason.
"Poverty is only a background. In reality, we have a problem of
socially vulnerable people. In this situation a person does not know
how to solve his problems and has to leave his child in an orphanage,"
she said.

M. Antonian expressed an opinion that from this point of view the
system needs to be reformed. The Strategical Program of Reforms in the
Children’s Protection System through 2010 aims to solve this problem.

M. Antonian informed those present that since 2006 the center has
implemented the project "Hot Line – Children’s Protection Telephone".
The 24-hour phone number 24-15-80 responds to all cases of violence
against children. "Hot Line – Children’s Protection Telephone" has
joined International Hot Line organization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress