A number of nongovernmental human rights organizations express their indignation at the inefficiency of authorities’actions aimed at protecting the basic children’s rights. The NGOs refer to about 20 children who live in the ruins of the former National Hotel in Chisinau, IPN reports.

The NGOs issued the statement in response to a feature report of a TV channel where the journalist says that the minors beg, smell glue and attack passersby.

The signatories call on the authorities dealing with the protection of children to assess the phenomenon and identify alternative solutions, including developing specialized programs/services. They note that the lack of reaction to this concrete case will lead to dangerous precedents.

The signatories remind about the hotline “Child’s Phone” – 116 111 – that both children and grownups can use to inform about abuses against children or situations of risk involving children. The service works non-stop and is free and anonymous.

Among the signatories of the statement are the International Center for the Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights “La Strada”, the National Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, the Association for the Empowerment of the Child and Family “AVE Copiii”, the International Civic Association “Hyde Park” and the Organization “Child, Community, Family”.