EU funded program promotes child participation in South Caucasus

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Regional Children Action for Participation (ReCAP) program, which aims at preparing children in the South Caucasus to be active citizens, was presented on March 25 in Yerevan. The program is funded by the European Union and implemented by Save the Children in partnership with The Future Is Yours local NGO.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Report 2008 (A/63/41) states that opinions of children and young people are neither sought, nor respected in schools or in state residential care institutions, Save the Children Armenia Representation reported. The societal stereotypes that children’s opinions are irrelevant are still strong in the South Caucasus, causing indifference or discouragement in children and resulting in disempowered and unengaged youth rather than active citizens who strengthen their countries’ democratization by their participation.

ReCAP strives to achieve empowerment of children in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to play a leading role in their own development and the development of their communities through meaningful participation at local, national and regional levels. In Armenia, ReCAP has targeted 20 schools in Yerevan and 5 provinces - Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Aragatsotn and Gegharkunik. Approximately 10,000 children, including refugee children, children with disabilities and victims of child rights violations will benefit from the program.

The expected results of the program are: increased knowledge and skills among children about child participation and child rights; strengthened child participation in national and regional networks for child rights protection; and improved child participation in developing policy recommendations on issues which directly involve children's rights and rights violations.

The presentation included welcoming speeches by the Country Director of Save the Children Irina Saghoyan, Head of Parliamentarian Committee on Health, Maternity and Child Issues Ara Babloyan, Acting Head of Operations of the EU Delegation to Armenia Jean-Christophe Gayrand, Head of General Education Department of the RA Ministry of Education and Science Narine Hovhannisyan and others.