ARMENIA-ABORTION-TBs-CRC

Concluding Observations on Report 5-6 (2024) (Link)

Non-discrimination

15. While welcoming the decrease in sex-selective abortions as a result of measures taken by the State party, the Committee recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that covers all elements enshrined in article 2 of the Convention and take further measures to address discrimination against girls, children with disabilities, refugee children, children who belong to ethnic and religious minority groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children.

 

***

Adolescent health

33. While welcoming the information that sexual and reproductive health education is part of the mandatory curriculum and recalling its general comment No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and general comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Adopt a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health policy targeting adolescents, with special attention to preventing early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections;

(b) Ensure that all adolescents, including those who are out of school and those in rural areas, receive confidential and child-friendly sexual and reproductive health information and services, including access to contraceptives and safe abortion.

---

Concluding Observations on Report 3-4 (2013) (Link)

Non-discrimination

18. The Committee is concerned at the prevalence of discrimination on the basis of gender. It is particularly concerned about sex-selective abortion in rural areas. The Committee also remains concerned at the de facto discrimination against categories of children in marginalized and disadvantaged situations, including children with disabilities, children living with HIV, children from poor families, children living in rural areas, children in street situations and children living in institutions.

19. The Committee urges the State party to enforce its legislation against discrimination on the basis of gender and take measures to prevent and ban sex- selective abortions. It also recommends that the State party ensure that its programmes address the situation of discrimination against categories of children in marginalized and disadvantaged situations, including children with disabilities, children living with HIV, children from poor families, children living in rural areas, children in street situations and children living in institutions. The Committee further recommends that the State party include information in its next periodic report on measures and programmes relevant to the Convention and undertaken by the State party in follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, as well as the outcome document adopted at the 2009 Durban Review Conference.

---

Concluding Observations on Report 2 (2004) (Link)

47. The Committee reiterates its concern regarding the high incidence of teenage pregnancies and the consequent high rate of abortions among girls under 18, especially illegal abortions. Furthermore, while the incidence of HIV remains low in the State party, the Committee is concerned about the lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among young people. The Committee welcomes, in this regard, the legislative measures taken in the area of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention in 2002, such as the Reproductive Health and Human Reproductive Rights Act, the approval of the National Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS in 2002, and the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Council for HIV/AIDS Prevention.

48. The Committee recommends that the State party reinforce its efforts to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and combat HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, including by ensuring that adolescents are provided with reproductive health education and child-friendly counselling services.

---

Concluding Observations on Report 1 (2000) (Link)

Right to health and health services (art. 24)

36. The Committee wishes to reiterate the concerns expressed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/1/Add.39) with regard to the deterioration in the health of the Armenian people, especially women and children, and decreasing budgetary allocations in this sector. The Committee’s concerns include the deterioration in the quality of care; inadequate prenatal and neonatal care; poor nutrition; that the cost of care is a barrier to access to health care for poor households; and that abortion is the most commonly used means of family planning.

37. The Committee recommends that the State party increase allocation of resources towards an effective primary health care system. The Committee recommends that the State party continue its efforts to distribute food to the poorest sections of society; expand use of iodized salt; and establish family planning programmes. The State party is encouraged to continue cooperation with and seek assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF, WHO, the World Food Programme and civil society.

38. With regard to adolescent health, the Committee is concerned at the high and increasing rate of teenage pregnancies, and the consequent high rate of abortions among girls under 18, especially illegal abortions; and the rise in rates of STDs and spread of HIV. Although parents play the most important role in this regard, nevertheless cultural attitudes, and lack of personal knowledge and communication skills on the part of parents are barriers to accurate reproductive health information and counselling.

39. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake a comprehensive study on the nature and extent of adolescent health problems, to be used as a basis for formulating adolescent health policies. In the light of article 24, the Committee recommends that adolescents have access to and be provided with reproductive health education, and child-friendly counselling and rehabilitation services.

---