The number of cases of victimization of children by encroaching on their life, health, development, dignity or morality has increased during the last few years. Last year, the number of criminal cases involving children as victims of offences rose by 24% on 2014, IPN has learned from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).

In 2014, the criminal cases involving children as victims totaled 1,073, while in 2015 this figure stood at 1,381. According to the data of the PGO, the situation worsens when the abusers are parents, legal representatives or other persons in whose care the children are.

The minors were also questioned as victims of robberies, domestic violence, traffic violations, hooliganism and aggression.

In over 300 criminal cases, the children were victims of sexual abuse. In 2015 there were recorded 214 cases of violence against children committed in education institutions.

The number of suicide attempts among minors also increased, especially among teens aged between 13 and 16. In most of the cases of suicide or suicide attempt, the children were brought up and educated in one-parent families or in families were the parents worked abroad and the minors remained in the care of grandparents.