The adoption of the amendments to the Law on the Rights of the Child is due to the need to bring the Law into compliance with the Constitution of Armenia and the amendments made to the Law on Psychiatric Care on June 18, 2020. This is what Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan said during a discussion on the bill on making supplements to the Law on the Rights of the Child held as part of today’s session of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs of the National Assembly.

In accordance with the amendments, a 16-year-old minor may give written consent to psychiatric intervention or renounce intervention, if, according to the psychiatrist, the minor above the age of 16 is capable of understanding the possible consequences of psychiatric intervention or the absence of the latter; the data don’t cause harm to the minor and contribute to psychiatric care and different services.

In addition, as the deputy minister stated, the written consent of the minor under 16 shall be given by his or her legal representative, except for cases provided for by law.

At the same time, the opinion of the minor must be taken into consideration during the provision of psychiatric care and services.

After a short discussion, the Committee approved the bill.