Children and officials shared out paper angels within a flashmob meeting, making thus common cause with the child victims of violence. The event was staged on the occasion of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression that is marked on June 4, IPN reports.

Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said the violence against children is nothing else but a crime. “The people should know that we do not have the right to abuse our children. Regretfully, statistics reveal many cases of violence against children. But each of us has the obligation to bring up the children with love and to ensure their right to education and a better future for them. Each second child under 7-8 was the victim of violence at least once. We want this message to reach all the villages and districts of the country. Wherever there are children, the people should know that we must not tolerate violence against them,” she stated

UNICEF Representative in Moldova Alexandra Yuster said the paper angels symbolize the children and the fact that not everyone behaves like an angle and can have a more difficult character, but this should not lead to violence against children. According to the UNICEF statistics, 16% of the children younger than one in Moldova are beaten by parents and only 8% of the parents consider that a person should be reported to the police for beating the child.

The paper angels distributed to passersby had on them the message: “Do not tolerate violence against children!” It was intended for parents, grandparents and the whole community responsible for the protection and safety of children.

This February, a girl aged five from Leova was beaten cruelly by her father and left to lie on the floor for several hours. The child was rushed to the hospital in a coma and died several days later. Three months later, a six-year-old girl from Cantemir was killed by her stepfather with an ax.