The minors in detention complained that they had been beaten, while most of them said they are seldom supported by lawyers designated for defense. The data form part of a study report presented on April 5, IPN reports.
Ombudsman Anatolie Munteanu, director of the Center for Human Rights, said there were interviewed 60 minors, 42 of whom are in detention. The study revealed the alarming inefficiency of the anti-torture mechanisms, from the moment the complaint is filed until the sentence is passed by the court. “We established that torture and ill-treatment are used especially by the police with a view to extracting statements about offenses when the minors are beaten. The juvenile justice system in Moldova is not sufficiently prepared for guaranteeing child-friendly procedures” he stated. Almost three fourths of the minors said they were threatened with long detention periods, severe beating or even death.
UNICEF Representative in Moldova Alexandra Yuster said the state bears special responsibility for protecting the children form violence, even the delinquent ones. By ratifying the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, Moldova pledged to do this. “I’m glad that the legislation was obeyed and many of the detained children were released in 24 hours. But the jurists who discussed with those children established that they were subject to abuse. However, Moldova made certain progress in preventing juvenile justice,” she stated.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Wicher Slagter said the findings of the report are alarming. “Torture against minors is not only a bad, but also a stupid thing. No matter what a child does, torture will not make him choose a better way. If we want to change their future, this should not be done by torture,” he said.
According to the study, 76% of the minors subject to torture didn’t file complaints for a number of reasons, including the distrust in the law enforcement bodies and the fear of being again subject to torture and ill-treatment.
The study “Torture and ill-treatment against children/minors in the context of juvenile justice: spread, impact, prevention, identification of cases, offering of support and reporting” was carried out by the Center for Human Rights of Moldova and the Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims “Memoria”, with the methodological and financial support of UNICEF Representative Office in Moldova.
