Since 1950, on June 1, many countries around the world, including Armenia, have been observing the “International Day for the Protection of Children”.

On September 9, 1995, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC) went into effect. 192 countries, including Armenia, have ratified this most important document that outlines the rights of every child. UNICEF published a Simplified version of the document.

We all love children. They bring joy to their parents and extended families. Their naïve and innocent questions and comments make us laugh. We get excited at their every new accomplishment. We are overjoyed when they start walking. We tell everyone when they utter their first word. We celebrate their birthdays with great pride – the birthday party is also a celebration for the parents’ accomplishment of raising the child.

The primary objective of every parent is to feed, protect and educate their children. They want to see them grow into mature, productive adults of whom they can be proud.

The 54 articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children aims at ensuring that every child lives in a secure and healthy environment, conducive to her healthy development into a mature and productive adult.

Unfortunately, not every parent is willing or capable of providing the protection, nurture and education necessary to raise mature and responsible adults. There are many vulnerable, broken and dysfunctional families whose children do not experience the love and nurture necessary for healthy development.

According to UNICEF, over 40% of Armenia children live in poverty. These children are not adequately nourished. Furthermore, over 100,000 children live in extreme poverty, unable to find enough to eat.

According to Fund for Armenia Relief (FAR), 77% of the children at the care of their center in Yerevan have been subjected to abuse.

Most children living in poverty and those subjected to abuse do not experience healthy development. Furthermore, they cannot concentrate on their studies and do not do well in school.

This is a vicious cycle. Children born and raised in such environments often marry to form dysfunctional families and give birth to children who grow up to become unproductive and burdensome.

The cycle needs to be broken.

AMAA Armenia, in cooperation with both Government and NGOs, implements various programs that help vulnerable children thrive into productive citizens.

We also applaud the efforts of the Government of Armenia and NGOs at addressing this most pressing problem.

Although there is progress, the results are not satisfactory.  More needs to be done.

A child’s welfare is her family’s top priority. This must also be true for our nation. Both Government and NGOs must make the well-being and healthy development of children their top priority.

We must spare no effort to eliminate poverty and improve our educational system to ensure that each and every Armenian child reaches her full potential.

Furthermore, we must synergize. Organizations are very effective at implementing their child protection programs. Yet, close cooperation will have a multiplying affect on the impact.

Let us all commit to the welfare of our nation’s children. Future generations will thank us for it.

Harout Nercessian