Ombudsman's Office Reports Seven Young Adults Residing with Children in Kapan Special Educational Complex

Issues have been identified concerning institutions that provide care and protection for children; in some locations, young adults aged up to 30 are living with children.

This was highlighted today by Arman Tatoyan during a government meeting, emphasizing that the Human Rights Defender, as an independent body responsible for monitoring the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, keeps matters related to children's rights under special attention.

Currently, seven young adults, aged between 20-26, continue to reside (overnight) with children at Kapan Special Educational Complex No. 3.

This issue was also detailed in the annual report of the Human Rights Defender for 2017, which was published last year and sent to the National Assembly, the Government, and mass media.

The substantiated data discussed in the government meeting regarding Kapan Special Educational Complex No. 3 is also reflected in the aforementioned report. The annual report indicates that during monitoring in 2017, it became evident that 15 individuals aged 20-30 with special needs were being cared for at Kapan Special Educational Complex No. 3. These individuals were previously transferred from Nubarashen Special School with the permission of the Ministry of Education and Science and the regional administration. Following the Ombudsman's intervention, 8 of these individuals were transferred to the “Dzorak” Mental Health Center.

The issue has also been recorded in several other institutions (such as the Mari Izmirlian orphanage, Kharberd Specialized Orphanage, Vanadzor Orphanage, etc.).

The Human Rights Defender not only records these issues but also presents them to the relevant authorities and facilitates their resolution by proposing specific solutions.