Armenia's Ombudsman Urges Public to Stop Sharing Identity of Abandoned Newborn in Yerevan

On August 10, local residents discovered an abandoned female infant wrapped in cloth in a residential courtyard on Halabyan Street in Yerevan. The newborn was urgently transported to a maternity hospital via ambulance. While the infant arrived in critical condition, medical professionals successfully saved her life.

Protecting the Infant's Personal Data

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia praised local authorities and medical teams for their rapid and effective response. However, the agency expressed deep concern over the circulation of hospital footage and the public disclosure of the name temporarily given to the child, as these details compromise her anonymity.

The Ombudsman emphasized that in highly sensitive cases involving vulnerable children, the child's best interests must supersede public curiosity, regardless of how much public resonance the story generates.

"The potential consequences of disseminating a child's information must be evaluated not just for the present moment, but in the context of the child's entire future," the agency's official statement read.

Public Appeal and Inter-Agency Cooperation

The Ombudsman is strongly urging journalists and social media users to exercise utmost caution by immediately halting the publication of any identifying materials, including the infant's name.

To address these privacy violations, the Human Rights Defender's office is currently collaborating with the Personal Data Protection Agency, a body operating under Armenia's Ministry of Justice. Both institutions share a unified approach to the issue, highlighting the critical need for proportional data processing and strict adherence to privacy laws.