The case of a one-year-old boy beaten to death, allegedly by his stepmother, shocked Armenia last March. Though the case dominated headlines, tragedies like this are not uncommon for the country.

05.05.2026

In recent months, Armenian media have reported a string of abuse cases involving children. They were subjected to physical violence, neglect, and sexual assault, often within the family. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, around 70% of children in Armenia experience some form of physical violence or psychological abuse. Experts warn the real figure is likely higher, as many cases never reach the authorities.

“When we speak about violent upbringing, it is important to note that not all such practices are captured in official statistics. At present, the only clear data available comes from law enforcement bodies, namely the police and the Investigative Committee. These figures indicate how many proceedings have been initiated, and in how many of them children have suffered from violence and are recognised as victims. However, these statistics reflect only the most acute manifestations of violence,” Viktoria Ohanyan from UNICEF Armenia told CivilNet.

In 2025, Armenia’s Investigative Committee handled 1,529 criminal cases involving crimes against minors, up from 1,374 in 2024. A total of 135 cases reached court, ranging from murder and serious injury to abuse and sexual violence. Many other cases were terminated, often on rehabilitative grounds. Victims span all age groups, with many under 16.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines violence broadly as: “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse… while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the custody of the child.”

High-profile cases often involve low-income families in rural areas. Experts say this creates a misleading picture. Mira Antonyan, executive director at the Mardigian Child Protection Center, stresses there is no class divide. “It’s simply that poor people’s cases surface immediately, people talk about them right away. Richer people have connections, they can manage things, they manage situations themselves,” she told CivilNet.

Most children at her center were previously abused by parents or close relatives. Neglect is the most common form.

“We have a greater number of neglected children than, for example, children who suffered beatings. By neglect we mean they were undernourished, not cared for, perhaps kept out of school. A big problem is that we do not have enough specialists to work directly with those families, because this needs long-term involvement. We do not have the resources to do that kind of job,” she said.

The situation in Georgia is comparable. In 2025, authorities recorded 1,560 cases of abuse against minors. Psychological abuse accounted for 594 cases, followed by neglect (381) and physical violence (329). There were also 170 cases of sexualised violence.

Experts caution that these figures do not reflect the full scale of the problem either.

“Unfortunately, the human rights situation is getting worse here, but children’s rights are especially at threat. Children are facing different kinds of systemic and serious problems in the country,” she told CivilNet.

Since 2024, laws adopted by the ruling Georgian Dream party have drawn criticism for weakening democratic institutions. The “foreign influence” law and tighter controls on foreign funding have put pressure on NGOs, many of which provide essential services to vulnerable children.

Kapanadze also worked with the Ninotsminda boarding school case, which in 2021 exposed serious failures in the child protection system. Orphaned children in the state-run institution were subjected to abuse and neglect for years, while authorities restricted independent monitoring.

“Poverty among children also remains widespread, with many relying on state social assistance. Meanwhile, the number of reported cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence involving minors is rising. Taken together, these trends point to serious challenges affecting children across multiple sectors,” she said.

More broadly, Kapanadze pointed to a gap between declared reforms and reality: “We are developing and trying to adopt new standards. We are still learning what it means to live under the principles of equality and peaceful coexistence. And that, unfortunately, means we need not necessarily stricter laws, but clearer, more effective regulations combined with a broader, more comprehensive approach from the state. And another thing that needs to be done is educating society and building a genuine culture of respect for the rule of law and equality,” she explained.The situation in Moldova is similar to Armenia’s and Georgia’s. However, the data on the matter is somewhat better documented.

A 2025 UNICEF-supported national study estimated that around two in five children in Moldova experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Meanwhile, online abuse was identified as growing and underreported.

Sexualised violence data is particularly alarming. Among young people, 14% of women aged 18–24 report having experienced sexual violence before turning 18, and 8% of girls aged 13 to 17 say they faced sexualised violence in the past year. The study also found that 12% of all children aged between 12 and 16 received lewd proposals from strangers online, with more than half later meeting them in person.

The International Center La Strada, a non-profit working with trafficking, gender-based violence, and child online safety, runs the Siguronline platform to monitor online risks

“In 2025, the Siguronline platform recorded 48 reports of online violence, with 44% involving online sexual abuse of children,” Cristina Deliu, the Program Director at the International Center La Strada, told CivilNet. According to her, the fast-changing nature of the internet makes tracking abuse difficult for both NGOs and the authorities.

“There are a lot of challenges that the state bodies face in cases related to online abuse of children. This is due to the continuous evolution of technologies, lack of specialists in this domain and existing gaps in the legislation,” Deliu explained.

Another growing concern is child trafficking.

“The issue of trafficking and exploitation of children is also becoming increasingly acute. Efforts to prevent trafficking are complicated by the broader regional context, including the refugee crisis and irregular migration. This makes children more vulnerable to exploitation,” Maria Țurcanu, a Senior Consultant in the Child Rights Directorate at Moldova’s Office of the People’s Advocate, told CivilNet.

Seeking solutions

Experts in the three countries point to deeper social norms. According to Ohanyan, children are still often seen as “property” rather than citizens that have their own rights.

“We still have a long way to go. Many professionals working with children, from teachers to law enforcement, view children as an object of adult authority rather than people who have rights, but rather. Many consider children a parent’s ‘property.’ It often leads to indifference, and people justify inaction by saying, ‘it’s someone else’s child.’ But violence and abuse in the family is a rights breach, and not a private matter.”

Armenia technically has a legal framework aligned with international standards. But in practice, the system remains passive. Responsibilities had long been assigned to local commissions that were described as incompetent and largely ineffective.

Reforms are now in progress. Around 150 state-funded child protection social workers are expected to be deployed by 2027.

“Authorities are seeking to hire around 150 state-funded child protection social workers. Unlike previous structures, these professionals will operate under delegated state authority, with salaries covered by the national budget and oversight ensured by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The reform aims to standardize child protection practices across the country, strengthen accountability through professional monitoring, and ensure that each child has a designated social worker responsible for early risk detection, prevention, and rapid intervention in cases of violence,” Ohanyan explained.

At the same time, new models like Barnahus aim to improve care for victims. The center, led by Mira Antonyan, brings together police, psychologists, and social workers in one place. Last year, 160 children were supported there. Still, challenges remain.

“A social worker may encounter families living in extreme conditions such as homes without proper doors or windows, no heating, and children lacking food or a place to sleep. In such cases, the role must go beyond observation and include access to concrete support, whether through direct resources or formal mechanisms to cover urgent needs like rent, repairs, or basic living conditions. Where poverty is the issue, relocation to minimally adequate housing should also be an option. And so far, I can’t imagine how the government could handle these costs,” Antonyan said.

Georgia’s child protection record carries its own painful history. Once seen as a regional frontrunner in democracy and human rights, the country has now entered a period of what international observers describe as democratic backsliding.

No new restrictions directly target children, but many groups supporting vulnerable children, such as those running shelters, anti-violence programs, legal aid and psychological services, now face greater pressure. That weakens support networks, reduces independent oversight, and may make professionals more cautious about reporting abuse. Fewer independent organisations also means fewer safe places for children in need.

Moldova has, on paper, built a solid framework to tackle violence against children, combining legislation, national strategies, and institutional reforms. At its core is the National Programme for Child Protection 2022–2026, which sets clear targets to reduce violence and promote zero tolerance.

This is supported by laws, school-level procedures, and intersectoral mechanisms aimed at improving identification, reporting, and victim support. In recent years, authorities have also strengthened monitoring systems, expanded psychosocial services, and improved coordination through institutions such as the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.

“Although violence against children remains a widespread and deeply concerning phenomenon in Moldova, with persistent underreporting, significant structural challenges, and continued exposure of children to multiple forms of abuse. But we can credit the government for a clear institutional commitment to prevention and response,” Maria Țurcanu said.

Yet, as officials acknowledge, the key challenge is not the lack of policies, but their consistent implementation, and the need to shift deeply rooted social attitudes that continue to normalize certain forms of violence against underaged individuals.

Source: https://civilnet.am/en/news/1011682