The number of child support collection files follows a constant upward trend. This shows that the mechanisms of voluntary agreement on the execution of child support payment decisions are not sufficiently accepted or, perhaps, do not produce the effect expected by children's parents. One of the problems is that some of the parents, who are obliged to pay child support, try to avoid paying by hiding or not declaring their income. The findings were presented at public consultations held on a parliamentary platform, IPN reports.
Oxana Novicov, secretary general of the National Union of Bailiffs, presented a study showing that, towards the end of 2023, 38,300 children were officially recorded as separated from their parents (up 110% on 2019). Only in 20% of the cases, the court orders the collection of an average amount that is close to the one set as the subsistence minimum for a child. Most frequently, the amount set varies between 1,000 and 1,500 lei for a child.
"In 2017, 43,200 child support collection files were under forced execution. Beyond this figure, there are also children who receive support through voluntary or quasi-voluntary payment by the obliged parent," said Oxana Novicov.
She noted that in half of the documents, the beneficiary is not just one child, but two, three, four, five, six children.
"In my practice, the largest number of beneficiaries on an enforceable document put in forced execution was nine children. If we multiply these figures, we come to the conclusion that at least every eighth, ninth child benefits from support through forced execution, not through voluntary assumption of the parent obliged to pay," explained the secretary of the National Union of Bailiffs.
According to her, the figures suggest that the problem is an acute one and concerns 20-25% of all children in the country. It is a complex process based on emotions, annoyances, conflicts between parents that are perpetuated during the collection of child support.
Attending the consultations, Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Vasile Coroi referred to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which expressly stipulates that States Parties must take appropriate measures to ensure the recovery of child support from parents or from other persons who have financial responsibility towards them, either they are in their territory or abroad.
"The payment of child support is also a mechanism to ensure the best interests of the child and to guarantee the financial resources necessary for his or her harmonious development," noted the ombudsman.
The consultations were organized by the Parliament’s Committee on Social Protection, Health and Family in partnership with the Committee on Human Rights and Interethnic Relations.
