Armenia's Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has issued a statement where he expresses concerns over children's participation in pre-electoral campaigns.

"In the framework of the snap parliamentary elections, the Human Rights Defender has registered problematic situations related to the participation of children in political rallies, as well as situations that violated their best interests.

The participation of children in rallies during the election campaign, where hatred and insult, words associated with violence are heard, is of great concern. There are also cases of swearing in public in the presence of children.

In this context, it is especially unacceptable to make such calls to the pre-election campaign with the participation of children, thus creating an atmosphere of hatred for them. Children are also more vulnerable to these questions because those words can quickly transform among them. 

The parents, trustees, and other people responsible for children should consider the expediency of involving the children in such political gatherings, taking these facts into account.

The monitoring of the Human Rights Defender's staff recorded publications on the involvement of teachers and students in groups organized by the acting Prime Minister of Armenia with the use of administrative leverages in pre-election rallies in different regions.

Some quotes from school principals and teachers in the videos shared by various public sources testify to the involvement of school principals, teachers, children, and groups in political gatherings.

For example, in one of the videos spread in the media, a teacher participating in the campaign of the acting Prime Minister, in response to a journalist's question whether she had been informed about the meeting in advance, said: "Of course. I came here not to frustrate the management of the school. What else could I do? I came here, but I'm not taking part in this․"

The school principal, teachers, and groups of students have taken part in the pre-election rally held by the acting PM in the village of Arevshat, Ararat region, in relation with which the school principal told the reporters that the children wanted, so they decided to let them participate. 

We must realize that it's not within the rights of children if they are involved in political rallies during school hours. It is especially problematic when children are involved in such gatherings without their parents' knowledge and consent. In any case, nothing proving the opposite was recorded during the monitoring.

School principals and teaching staff, as well as representatives of the competent authorities, must be guided in their actions solely by the best interests of the child, the supervision of parents, trustees, responsible representatives of the educational institution, and the principle of guaranteeing children's right to education and safety.

The Ombudsman's monitoring also registered a case when the Facebook page of one of the kindergartens in Armavir had spread information about the time and place of the ruling party's campaign.

The monitoring of the Ombudsman's staff recorded cases of children walking around with clothes and posters with campaign slogans, posting or tearing up posters, handing out brochures of different parties, applauding during the campaign, as well cases where children were being urged to make certain political chants.

According to international requirements, in case of children's participation in political gatherings, it is necessary to ensure their informed, conscious and voluntary participation. Awareness of parents, trustees, their consent presence, and supervision of the process is important.

The Ombudsman states that there is no ban on the participation of children in peaceful gatherings, including political ones. It is important to ensure the proper participation of the child in peaceful rallies or other mass events, as well as the free expression of the child's opinion.

However, when considering the participation of children in rallies, it is necessary to be guided by the imperative to give priority to their best interests, taking into account the specific situations.

The best interests of the child should always be taken into account as the absolute value, while not considering them is a violation of the child's rights," wrote Tatoyan.