During her working visit to the Gegharkunik region on May 11, the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan visited the “Little Prince” social day-care center operated by the “Armenian Caritas” benevolent NGO in Gavar. During the visit, the center’s coordinator, Sona Khachikyan, introduced the Defender to the history of the center’s activities, ongoing projects, as well as the daily lives and educational initiatives aimed at the development of the beneficiaries.

This was followed by a meeting with the children of the center and their parents, during which issues related to the protection of human rights, the importance of forming a human rights culture, and the main directions and scope of the Human Rights Defender’s powers were discussed. Anahit Manasyan emphasized the importance of such direct interactions, underlining that human rights protection begins with valuing the concepts of human dignity, equality, and tolerance. She noted that without proper education on human rights, there can be no effective and sustainable protection system, adding that professionalism and integrity are primary in any field of activity.

The Defender presented her main areas of work and the challenges in the field of human rights protection to the children and young people, highlighting the importance of their active involvement. In this context, she specifically addressed the activities of the Public Council on Children’s Rights and the “A Day on the Frontline of Rights Protection” initiative. According to Anahit Manasyan, the effectiveness of the protection system depends on the active and conscious participation of young people. Therefore, it is crucial to create an environment where every child and young person has the opportunity to fully realize their rights and participate in decision-making processes. The visit concluded with the Defender touring the facility and observing the working conditions provided for the staff.