The authorities will draft a new law that would regulate the status of the interviewer in cases when children are questioned as victims, witnesses or offenders. The Ministry of Justice, UNICEF and the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention on September 8 signed a memorandum of cooperation valid until March 2018. Under the document, the interviewer will have access to specialized services, including accompanying by qualified specialists to legal procedures, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the three sides will strengthen their efforts to ensure child-friendly justice for child victims of offenses of a sexual character, domestic violence and trafficking in human beings. The central and local public authorities will receive technical assistance in his regard. The network of interviewers will be strengthened within the special victim questioning procedure and the capacities of the legal system and child protection system professionals in seven districts of the country will be developed.

In Chisinau and Balti, two child questioning rooms will be outfitted with modern equipment, in accordance with the international standards. “The signing of this memorandum represents one of the many measures that are to be taken. This way we strengthen the partnership that will contribute to the protection of children,” stated Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, 579 criminal cases that involved 625 children were started in the first half of 2017, as opposed to 497 cases in the corresponding period last year.