The child protection system must have a pro-active reaction to cases of child abuse, with an emphasis on preventing such cases. The protection of children subjected to violence and at risk was the theme of public consultations staged by the Parliament’s Commission for Social Protection, Health and Family, IPN reports.

MP Liliana Grosu, the Commission’s deputy head, noted that very serious cases of child abuse have been made known recently: cases of violence, child trafficking, bullying and cases of serious crimes committed by children. Such behaviors are often caused by the situations of vulnerability and violence in which these children lived and grew up.

In the Republic of Moldova there are several mechanisms through which the Law on Special Protection of Children at Risk and Children Separated from Parents is applied. A mechanism targeting children at risk of committing crimes is being developed. Despite these efforts, the recent cases show that the made efforts are not enough. In the MP’s opinion, the authorities should realize what needs to be done, how they should act to ensure real protection for all children.

Attending the meeting, representatives of the authorities responsible for the protection of children at risk stressed the need to institutionalize the training of employees in this field, which would ensure better implementation of the normative framework aimed at combating violence against children.

They also said that the duties of persons working in the fields of social protection, health, education and defense need to be updated so as to include measures referring to the protection of children at risk. The intersectoral cooperation mechanisms between authorities should also be updated and a clearer definition of the mechanisms for identifying and monitoring children at risk is needed.