Richard Mills, the US Ambassador to Armenia, visited an “orphanage,” or residential care facility for children in Vanadzor, Armenia, in Lori Province. On a tour of the province, Mills also met with human rights groups, representatives from Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and UNICEF. Mills had discussions with these groups, as well as orphanage staff and residents, on the challenges of family reunification and the need to reform the institution of orphanages in Armenia, stating that children have the right to proper care and love which they do not necessarily get in residential care facilities. This article discusses Armenia’s goal to deinstitutionalize children and research from UNICEF indicating that 97% of children in Armenian orphanages come from vulnerable families and have at least one living parent.
