United Nations Special Rapporteur to asses sale and sexual exploitation of children in Armenia
United Nations Special Rapporteur Maud de Boer-Buquicchio will conduct an official visit to Armenia from 12 to 18 May 2015 to assess the situation of sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in the country. “I look forward to assessing the progress made and challenges faced by Armenia against the sale and sexual exploitation of children in all its forms,” said the independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies to prevent and combat the sale and sexual exploitation of children, and to make recommendations for the rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims. “I will reach out to child victims and children in vulnerable situations to take their opinions into account in my recommendations to the Government and other concerned parties,” said Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government. During her seven-day mission, the human rights expert will meet with representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches at the national and local level. She will also meet with members of civil society and NGOs who work on child protection issues, and visit child care centres and shelters in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Gyumri. At the end of her visit, on Monday 18 May 2015, Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio will share with the media her preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference which will be held at the Conference Hall of the UN Office in Armenia, Petros Adamyan Street, 14 Yerevan, at 12:00 am. Access to the press conference will be limited to journalists. The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2016.
