Up to 60 per cent of Armenians surveyed in a public opinion poll believed that beating a child can sometimes form part of a good upbringing.

The poll was conducted by graduate students in five regions across the country, including the capital, Yerevan, and included both children and adults. Among those polled were representatives of government bodies, school teachers and police. Discrepancies were revealed between opinions in the capital and those in the regions. 

The poll was conducted on the eve of World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on November 19.  During the follow-up round table discussion, school children presented the results they received and then discussions were held as to how the situation can be changed.

“The discussions revealed the real situation in the regions, where beating is considered a very productive means of upbringing,” says World Vision Armenia Child Protection Specialist Iveta Davtyan. “Even those children who are well educated on their rights have this alarming opinion.”

“Children living in the regions of the country believe that their parents, and sometimes their teachers have the right to beat them for their own good,” says Roman Harutyunyan, who also works on child protection with World Vision Armenia.

It was agreed that students from the capital must play a role in convincing their peers from the regions that no parent has the right to beat a child. The importance of the students themselves, in raising awareness on child abuse and child rights in their schools and communities, was also a common theme.

Students of Talin town have already decided to publish a special edition of their school magazine, in which they will describe what child abuse is and what children can do if they experience abuse.

The poll also revealed that neglect and physical abuse are the two most prominent kinds of abuse that children experience in Armenia.