Ombudsman Urges Against Involving Children in Protests

On May 14, during a protest outside the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, two divided groups engaged in mutual insults, featuring chants filled with intolerance and hate speech. Children were also present at the protest, holding signs that contained elements of insult, intolerance, and hate speech.

This information comes from the Office of the Human Rights Defender.

In media-released videos, children stated that they participated in the protest without their parents’ knowledge and were unable to clearly explain the purpose of their involvement, nor could they clarify the content of the slogans on their signs.

The Human Rights Defender recognizes the importance of guaranteeing children’s rights as enshrined in international documents, including the right to participate in assemblies or other mass events. However, it is crucial that the assessment of these rights is guided by the best interests of the child, taking into account the specific circumstances of each situation. The realization of a child's rights cannot be an end in itself; it must ensure the child’s full and conscious involvement in public life, which serves the best interests of the child.

Considering the aforementioned, we deem the involvement of children in the mentioned protest and similar actions unacceptable and urge all parties to refrain from attempts to involve children in such protests.