Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2025, publiée 114ème session CIT (2026)

Convention (n° 182) sur les pires formes de travail des enfants, 1999 - Arménie (Ratification: 2006)

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (b). Use, procuring, or offering of a child for prostitution, pornography, or pornographic performances. The Committee notes with interest that, under the new Criminal Code, which entered into force on 1 July 2022, former sections 132(1), 166, and 232(2) have been replaced with section 239, which prohibits inducing or engaging a minor in acts related to pornography, providing for penalties of up to eight years in aggravated cases. It further notes that section 202 criminalizes online grooming for sexual purposes or the production of child pornography with a maximum penalty of up to 2 years. The Committee also notes that sections 298 and 299 prohibit pimping and facilitating prostitution, including with respect to minors with a maximum imprisonment term of five years. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of sections 239, 202, 298 and 299 of the Criminal Code

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering a child for illicit activities, in particular the production and trafficking of drugs. The Committee notes with interest from the Criminal Code that former section 165 has been replaced with section 238, which prohibits the recruitment or involvement of a minor in the commission of a crime. This includes actions such as instilling criminal ideology or promoting criminal behaviour and provides for penalties of up to eight years of imprisonment in aggravated cases.

The Committee also takes note of the information provided by the Government regarding offences, investigations, and convictions involving the use of children in illicit activities: (i) in 2021, under former section 165 of the Criminal Code, two criminal cases were initiated, one involving fraud remains at the trial stage, while the second case was dismissed; (ii) in 2022, under section 238 of the Criminal Code, two cases concerning coercion of a minor to participate in theft were merged into a single proceeding and it is currently under trial; and (iii) in 2023, five proceedings were initiated under section 238, two cases were terminated, one remains under preliminary investigation, and two were merged with other cases currently under trial, including one involving the participation of a minor in the illegal sale of narcotics and another in theft. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number and nature of investigations, prosecutions, and convictions imposed on individuals who have involved children in illegal activities.In respect of the cases that have been dismissed, the Committee requests the Government once again to provide information on the reasons for such dismissals.

Article 6. Programmes of action. The Committee notes the Government’s indication regarding the adoption of the 2023–2025 National Plan for the Organization of Action against Human Trafficking or Exploitation in the Republic of Armenia (National Plan).

The Committee further notes from the information provided by the Government the implementation of awareness-raising and training activities under the National Plan, including the training of field workers in day care institutions, regional seminars targeting vulnerable communities, and courses for frontline workers on identifying and supporting trafficking victims. It also notes training for police officers in 2023–2024, including a three-month course on trafficking prevention for mid-level officers and the incorporation of a manual on child victim interviewing techniques into the Ministry of Internal Affairs training curriculum. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of the 2023–2025 National Plan for the Organization of Action against Human Trafficking and Exploitation and any other measures adopted to prevent and combat the trafficking and exploitation of children. It requests the Government to provide the results achieved for these measures.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Trafficking of children. The Committee notes the Government’s information on measures for the rehabilitation and social integration of children who are victims of trafficking. These include: (i) financial support to non-governmental organizations to deliver accommodation, psychological, legal, and economic assistance to victims; (ii) direct assistance to victims, including medical care, temporary housing, education, and psychological support; (iii) regional cooperation with non-governmental organizations in Gegharkunik, Kotayk, and Vayots Dzor to identify and prevent trafficking; (iv) a trilingual online information form outlining the support services available to victims; and (v) awareness-raising meetings under the motto Support Every Victim of Trafficking, Without Exception. The Committee also notes that 24 child victims of trafficking were identified and received assistance between 2018 and 2023. The Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that all child victims of trafficking are removed from the worst forms of child labour and provided with appropriate rehabilitation and social integration services. It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of child victims identified, removed, and provided with assistance.