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“Dear children, dear colleagues, distinguished guest,

first of all, I congratulate all of us on Universal Children’s Day.

This is the second holiday regarding the children in the official holidays' calendar, but it is clear for everybody that what refers to children is always out of the borders and formats of official ceremony.

25 years ago the Republic of Armenia also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. And today the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia joins the UNICEF world initiative, providing the official microphone to the children.

We have enshrined the rights of the child and the obligation of protecting them also with the relevant legislative basis, first of all, with the basic law of the country. The corresponding articles of the RA Constitution particularly record: the child has a right of freely expressing his/her opinion which, according to the level of age and maturity,is taken into consideration in the issues relating to the child.

‘In the issues regarding the child the child’s interests shall be of prior attention.

Parents shall have the right and obligation to take care of the education, health of as well as the full and harmonious development of their children.’

However we have recorded our attitude and perceptions, first of all, in the system of our national values. I will not exaggerate, if I say that indeed, there is tenderheartedness among us towards family, children, their future and destiny.

It is different thing that in our perception and everyday activities we still have a lot to do in order the children will have more well-to-do childhood. We often try to put the notion protection of the rights of child in the circle of our pictures, without taking into consideration how the child sees all that. Today, at the Special Sitting convened in the National Assembly Hall, from this responsible and audible tribune our children will voice out loud also their understanding. We, together, shall talk that even the best document cannot guarantee sufficient living conditions and secure childhood for children, if all of us, the people of the world will realize that the child is a higher value with today’s rights and hopes of the future. We shall create such dignified conditions in order the children can live in the family, under the auspice of parents, family, in the conditions of family warmth.

This is once again a reminder about the moral duty of the society, state and human being that the best protection of a child is the provision of the family atmosphere, and the best guarantee of the child’s development is the family.

The Universal Children’s Day once again reminds the adults at the family, state and world level about the rights of the children living full life and having happy childhood, qualified medical aid and getting education having rest, being protected from physical and psychological violence, having their own opinion and other rights.

Let us respect, preserve and protect those rights and not only today.

Let us create the favourable environment and well-to-do living conditions which will give every child an opportunity to happily live and smile, play and healthily develop, grow up and confidently go up the stairs of life.

Once again I welcome all of you and wish you unembarrassed and sincere participation.

Thank you.”