Children’s homes may be abolished: Azerbaijan state committee official

Day.Az: Despite the efforts you have taken the problem of child labor still exits in Azerbaijan…

Aynur Karimova: I assure that this problem is not be so acute in Azerbaijan. According to statistical studies of the International Labor Organization, in general, Azerbaijan has no cases of exploitation of child labor under 15 years.

I do not deny that there are cases when juveniles are involved in family business, especially in the regions, but it is mostly mild forms of work which does not pose a threat to health of the child. We are interested in the fact that little citizens of our country pay more attention to education.

Q: What about the street children? Of course, now they can be seen in streets much less frequently than before. Does it mean that root of the problem has been solved?

A: I think it would be wrong to deny this problem. There are homeless children even in very developed countries. Certain steps have been taken in Azerbaijan  to address this problem. Rehabilitation centers for street children operate for already 10 years. As a result of joint activity of these centers with the Committee, as many as 950 children and adolescents have returned to normal life.

Q: Orphans are known to live in children’s homes until a certain age. What becomes of them after they leave the shelter?

A: There are many orphan children without parents who are brought up in an orphanage. Our main goal is to be with them not only to adulthood, but also help them in later life.

In many regions of the country special dorms are built for graduates of boarding schools and problem of their employment is solved with the help of local businesses and authorities. If a child is talented and is seeking higher education, the committee assist him/her to the extent possible and finds sponsors. In some cases, a sponsor is a state, which cares about younger generation, encouraging learning and professional development of talented youth.

Q: Will boarding schools be abolished in future?

A: Children's homes may be abolished in Azerbaijan. But now the timing is too early to say. The form of these institutions will be changed and brought into line with international standards under the state program to transfer children from public children’s homes to families and alternative care.

This program provides for the establishment of centers for children's social services based on families, transformation of teaching and educational institutions such as boarding schools for children with disabilities to rehabilitation centers, carrying out measures for the return of the children of these institutions to their biological families, etc.
 
Q: What steps Azerbaijan has taken as part of the Year of the Child?

A: Recommendations are being developed on the modern model of the family, as well as enhanced educational work related to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and various festivals of children's creativity are being held.

In addition, measures have been taken to involve children who have lost both parents and face difficult social situations to educational institutions such as boarding schools, to give them quality education and a massive medical examinations related to health and education of children were held.

Q: What today Azerbaijani children need most of all?

A: Unfortunately, little attention is paid to education of children in a healthy psychological environment in Azerbaijan. This is one of the important issues of child rights. Therefore, we will place a special attention on development of this sphere.

/Day.Az/