From the beginning of the year until now 24 children have been abandoned, including two infants, who were left on the street. In 17 cases their mothers signed an official document of refusal and only 3 of them reviewed their decision and took their children back home. According to the Chief of the Municipal Department for Children Rights, Svetlana Chifa, the risk groups for abandoning their children are single mothers with no stable residence and jobs, students, parents with many children and with low income, and also parents of the children with congenital handicaps. The majority of the cases are recorded in maternities and paediatric units of the hospital. About a third of the abandoned children are infants – up to 4 days. After the document of refusal is signed, the abandoned child is taken into the custody of the enabled protective forces. If during the period of 6 months the child’s parents don’t assert their right to educate him/her within the family, the child receives the status of an orphan and is enlisted in the children available for adoption. Confidentiality is ensured to the adoptive parents. No cases of litigation between the adoptive and biological families are recorded for the moment in Chisinau.