YEREVAN. – Armenia needs all of its children, so as to become and stay a prosperous country. 

Tanja Radocaj, Head of the the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representation in Armenia, stated the aforesaid at Tuesday’s discussion on the Armenian government’s alternative care services for children in difficult situations.

Radocaj said they are cooperating with the state agencies of Armenia for long years, now, to set up alternative services, instead of special and boarding schools, for such children. She noted that their objective is to provide personalized care and support to each and every Armenian child.

As per the UNICEF official, there were 11,000 children in the care homes of Armenia ten years ago, whereas their number has dropped to 3,500—approximately by 75 percent—, in 2015.

She expressed the view that the Armenian-government approved respective procedure can run in the country.

As per Tanja Radocaj, Armenia has another challenge: care and treatment toward children with disabilities. She noted that such children in Armenia need to be raised by their families, or alternative families, and special assistance needs to be provided to these families.

The UNICEF official expressed delight that a fully inclusive education will be provided in Armenia in the coming years.