In Armenia the number of children involved in the hard work reaches up to 1100

The number of children involved in some kind of work in Armenia reaches up to 1100, and very often it is hard work, which is harmful to them and impedes education, – says the head of the programs of the protection of children and educational programs of World Vision Armenia” organization Aida Muradyan, noting many of these children do not have time to go to school and they often do not get proper food and care. Teachers know why they do not attend school, but they understand that it is due to the situation of families.

According to the specialist, in 1999 the International Labour Organization adopted a convention on “Combating the worst forms of child labor.” In 2006, Armenia acceded to the Convention and undertook a number of international commitments, the purpose of which is to fight the involvement of the children in the worst works.

And what is meant by the worst forms of labor, the expert explains. All those forms which are aimed against education, the normal development, safety and morals are the worst forms of labor.

“The child has the right to work:  if it were negative phenomenon it would not be enshrined in the laws of the Conventions. The question, rather, is that working at an early age limits the right of the child to education”, – said Aida Muradyan.

Full text in Armenia