CRC/C/ARM/CO/3-4 consideration and recommends that the State party amend its legislation to better reflect the right established by the Convention. It also recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to ensure that this right is appropriately integrated and consistently applied in all legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings as well as in all policies, programmes and projects relevant to and with an impact on children. In this regard, the State party is encouraged to develop procedures and criteria to provide guidance to all relevant persons in authority for determining the best interests of the child in every area, and to disseminate these to the public, including traditional and religious leaders, courts of law, administrative authorities and legislative bodies. Respect for the views of the child 22. The Committee notes that the right to be heard is included in a number of laws, but is concerned that children’s views are not taken into account on a regular basis in all matters that affect them and regrets that the existing Youth Parliaments are not functioning effectively. The Committee is also concerned that consent to medical intervention for children under the age of 18 is given only by the child’s representative. 23. The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard and recommends that it take measures to strengthen this right in accordance with article 12 of the Convention. In doing so, it recommends that the State party: (a) Take legislative and policy measures in order to promote and facilitate the respect for the views of the child within the family, schools, care institutions and the courts in all matters affecting him or her; (b) Reactivate and strengthen the Youth Parliaments and encourage children’s active participation in them; (c) Ensure that children’s views are taken into account in cases of medical interventions as indicated in the Committee’s general comment No 15 (2013). C. Violence against children (arts. 19, 37 (a) and 39 of the Convention) Ill treatment and corporal punishment 24. The Committee is concerned at the information that children in closed and partially closed institutions, in particular in Vanadzor Children’s Home and at the Vanadzor Care and Protection Centre (Boarding school) No 1 are subjected to ill treatment and violence. It is also concerned that although both the Family Code and the Rights of the Child Act of 1996 have provisions against corporal punishment, there is a lack of enforcement mechanisms and the State party’s legislation does not provide sanctions in cases of violation. 25. The Committee urges the State party to take urgent measures in closed or partially closed institutions, in particular in Vanadzor Children’s Home and at the Vanadzor Care and Protection Centre (Boarding school) No 1, to investigate the individual cases of violence as well as prosecute and punish perpetrators. Furthermore, it recommends that the State party prohibit the use of corporal punishment in all settings and provide for enforcement mechanisms under its legislation, including appropriate sanctions in cases of violation. It further recommends that the State party strengthen and expand awareness-raising and education programmes and campaigns, in order to promote positive, non-violent and 5