The issue of children in situations of risk as a result of family abandonment, especially those who live in deserted buildings in Chisinau, remains a pressing one. The authorities aim to join efforts following an increase in the number of incidents involving minors, including a case of death. The subject was discussed in a working meeting staged by the ombudswoman for the protection of children’s rights Maia Banarescu in cooperation with the Chisinau Child Rights Protection Division, IPN reports.

According to the ombudswoman, there are no mechanisms for efficiently ensuring the rights of the children in the legal system. In an approach made earlier to the Premier, they asked to create a placement and assistance service for minors.

Chisinau Child Rights Protection Division specialist Ianos Jitari said that only about 150 minors were placed within the Emergency Service in 2015, as opposed to over 270 in the first seven months of this year alone.

85% of the children identified on the streets of Chisinau have residence in different districts. These do not have parents or remained without one of the parents. Some of them are placed at specialized centers, but they repeatedly leave these and go again to the street. In most of the cases, the vagrant children take part in the commission of different offenses even if they realize that they are liable to punishment. Recently, three minors caused bodily injuries to a beggar and this died, stated Ianos Jitari.

The participants in the meeting said the children’s return to the street can lead to serious problems. Many of these will be jailed as they will reach the age when they are liable to jail terms. The placement at an institution that is soon abandoned is not a viable solution. Thus, the center that is to be created for children with behavioral problems and vagrant children should be closed or semi-closed and those children should be counseled by psychologists.