Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) is recognized worldwide as a serious public health issue and a grave violation of children’s rights.
Within the framework of cooperation on research initiatives on child sexual exploitation and abuse, on March 31, 2025, a meeting was held at the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center with the Program Director of the “Astra” Foundation, Phd in Sociological Sciences Dr. Veronika Odinokova, Executive Director of the “Child Protection Center” Foundation, President of the Armenian Association of Social Workers, PhD in Sociological Sciences, YSU Associate Professor Dr. Mira Antonyan, Head of YSU Chair of Social Work and Social Technologies, PhD in Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Yuliana Melkumyan and YSU Lecturer Tatevik Karapetyan.
Welcoming the guests, RPPC Director Lilit Mnatsakanyan emphasized the need for cooperation and the implementation of joint programs in this field. Attaching importance to the implementation of research on sexual exploitation and abuse among children aged 12-17, program leaders presented a specially designed questionnaire intended for conducting surveys. During the discussion, RPPC specialists made methodological suggestions aimed at improving the questionnaire and enhancing its effectiveness.
The aim of these research activities is to contribute to the development and implementation of population-based surveys on the prevalence of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Armenia by collecting data on the cultural, social, and contextual factors that contribute to vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse in Armenia.
The expected social impacts of the program include raising public awareness about sexual exploitation and abuse, encouraging open discussions on the topic in Armenia, increasing stakeholders’ engagement in the use of data on sexual exploitation and abuse, and advancing academic research on the topic.
Within the framework of the program, guidelines will be developed for conducting surveys on the prevalence of sexual exploitation and abuse in Armenia. The guidelines will serve as a valuable resource for future research and policy development.
02.04.2025
