Moldova made great progress in ensuring the observance of children’s rights, but there are yet many challenges. The access to education remains the most violated children’s right in Moldova and children are discriminated in terms of access to education, especially those who come from poor or vulnerable families. The issue was discussed in a press club meeting organized by the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Field of Social Protection of Child and Family, IPN reports.
The press club meeting was held in connection with the participation by representatives of the Moldovan Government in the plenary session of the UN Human Rights Committee.
Head of the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Field of Social Protection of Child and Family Mariana Ianakevich said it is important to assess the cost of the steps that need to be assumed both politically and administratively to make sure that children’s rights are observed.
An alternative report compiled by civil society, besides the problem of access to education, highlights the improper access to free health services, the insufficiency of care services and other problems. “The school should be open to all the children and should offer education in equal conditions for everyone,” stated Mariana Ianakevich.
Daniela Samboteanu, head of the National Child Abuse Prevention Center, said the problem of violence against children was more present in the questions put to the Government’s rapporteur than in the presented report. Among the discussed issues were the use of violence in education institutions, corporal punishment, online security and the measures taken to prevent online child abuse.
Daniela Samboteanu noted that the psychological services provided to children in institutions form part more of universal services than of specialized child rehabilitation services. “The specialized services remain a problem. This is not a result that we can assume. In Moldova, we do not have a regulatory framework and quality standards to create specialized services for children victims,” she said.
Children also produced a report on the observance of children’s rights from their perspective. There was created a reflection group that consisted of 49 children from 21 regions of the county, who monitored the observance of children’s rights at the local level. Alexandrina Danut from Stefan Voda district said the right to be protected from violence is the most violated right. The children meet with problems of discrimination and use of violence in school, even on the part of teachers. Labor exploitation is another problem. “Many children have to work to help their parents or to pay for studies. Even if education is free up to 18, in most of the schools money is collected into parents’ associations, for school restoration projects,” said the girl.
Consultant of the Child Protection Division of the Office of the People’s Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights Victoria Manolache said the ombudsman will analyze all the recommendations and will have meetings with representatives of the public authorities to discuss the proposals, while an independent expert will monitor how the old and new recommendations are implemented.
