World Vision Armenia team members elaborated a program for juvies

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a round table discussion on reforms aimed to combat juvenile delinquency, representatives of World Vision Armenia (WVA) introduced the results of their two-year program launched in 2009.



In her remarks, World Vision Armenia Advocacy Expert Tatevik Davtyan indicated the two objectives of the program, these being broadening the scope of preventive measures and enhancing their quality and assisting in judiciary reform processes.



The round table was attended by representatives of Armenian government, Police and regional centers, as well as international NGOs.



The program is aimed at creating rehabilitation centers for juvenile offenders, training relevant specialists (investigators and judges) and carrying out joint work with public organizations.



Program managers focused attention on Vardashen school which is highly experienced in working with anti-social children. They stressed the importance of creating similar centers in all regions of Armenia and elaborating alternative methods for punishing such children. As to preventive measures, participants attached major importance to the role of schools and social workers.



According to WVA Child Protection expert Hasmik Hovhannisyan, 27 judges were trained in the framework of the program.



The round table organizers also focused on the funding problem as one of the most vulnerable aspects of the program.