Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN692
2005-04-19 12:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA RATIFIES INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON

Tags:  ELAB SOCI PREL PGOV AM KTIP 
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UNCLAS YEREVAN 000692 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR GTIP, DRL AND EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PREL PGOV AM KTIP
SUBJECT: ARMENIA RATIFIES INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000692

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR GTIP, DRL AND EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PREL PGOV AM KTIP
SUBJECT: ARMENIA RATIFIES INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS


1. Armenia has ratified three international
instruments on the protection and promotion of
children's rights this year. On February 28 the
National Assembly ratified the Optional Protocol to the
Convention of the Rights of the Child on Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Pornography. On March
21 the National Assembly ratified the Optional Protocol
to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
involvement of children in armed conflict and the
following day (March 22) ratified the International
Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the Worst
Forms of Child Labor. Armenian President Kocharian
signed these documents on March 19 and April 13,
thereby finalizing the ratification process. The GOAM
now has twelve months in order to review its
legislation and bring it into correspondence with these
documents.


2. There has been considerable coverage in the press
and from international organizations regarding the
ratification of these documents. UNICEF praised the
GOAM's efforts to protect children's right during a
press conference earlier this month. Sheldon Yett, the
UNICEF representative in Armenia, expressed his opinion
that the ratification of these international
instruments was a key step in ensuring a "protective
environment" for Armenia's children. UNICEF has also
commented that the new Armenian Labor Code, adopted in
November 2004, is already generally consistent with the
ILO Convention 182 and other international instruments
regulating child labor. Post has continuously raised
the importance of these conventions in fighting
trafficking and protecting the children's rights at
meetings with GOAM officials.
EVANS