President Sarkissian held a working meeting with representatives of the society on Lanzarote Convention: It is not the Convention that will be working in schools, but rather teachers, laws, textbooks, programs and certainly, parents

President Armen Sarkissian held a working discussion on the issues related to the Lanzarote Convention and its application.

President Sarkissian noted that the purpose of the meeting is to hold a dialogue on the issues of concern existing in the society and related to the Convention.

Noting once again that he stresses the importance of attention of each and every one when it comes to the implementation of the Convention and public oversight, the President said that while he understands voiced concerns, it is important to separate reality from emotions. After the President signed the Convention, the process did not end but started because the pertinent laws to be adopted in the future are very important. President Sarkissian said that the countries, which joined the Convention, decide for themselves and adopt or create solutions which reflect their values, notions, culture, beliefs related to the family, parents, and children.

Noting that the Convention should be viewed as a declaration of principles, President Sarkissian underlined that more extensive and important work starts after the ratification of the Convention. “Concerns related to the Convention are not the Armenian phenomenon only. In Europe too, people have a very restrained attitude toward it, and each family, based on its culture and history, is very careful when it comes to children. We all have one common understanding that children must be protected so that they should grow up mentally free because the individual is formed in that very age. Parents and the society are particularly sensitive about the issue of what, when, and how to teach children,” the President said. Armen Sarkissian noted that at the beginning our society reacts and treats different happenings very emotionally; however, when it comes to concrete and decisive actions, the moment to treat the issue with more substance, it is being somewhat forgotten which means that all energy is spent in the emotional field. “But this issue doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. This is the issue which I will not forget, even if you do,” President Sarkissian said addressing the participants of the meeting. “Raising and educating our children is one of the most significant issues. It is also important how we educate in general – how are we educating and based on what program? How to educate the kids, who are the teachers? What are, so to speak, the protocols, guide marks which should lead the educational process and so on.” President Sarkissian noted that answers to these and many similar questions should be found during public discussions as well as in the precise proposals formed as a result of these discussions. It can help in adopting laws and other legal documents, after the Lanzarote Convention is signed, which should be line with our state, national interests and the system of values.

The President underscored that it is necessary to create precise mechanisms and representatives of concerned groups and experts should also be engaged in the process. Armen Sarkissian urged the participants of the meeting – education expert Anahit Bakhshian, psychologist Karine Nalchajian, sexologist Narine Nersissian, lawyer Armine Fanian, age psychologist Zara Babayan, pedagogue Manushak Stepanian, and software designer Tigran Martirossain to focus on concrete solutions and as representatives of different areas to present their concerns in the form of proposals. He also offered them legal assistance of the Presidential Administration. “It is up to us how we will treat the Convention – as a declaration, or as a binding document,” the President of Armenia said and stressed once again that important and significant are the laws which will be adopted as documents related to the practical implementation of the Convention. The President underlined that they should reflect our national values and standards. “It is not the Convention that will be working in schools, but rather teachers, laws, textbooks, programs and certainly, parents,” President Sarkissian said.

The participants of the meeting presented the framework of their concern, ideas, and proposals and stressed the importance of participation of the public and expert circles and their oversight in the process of drafting future documents and installing mechanisms.