Children’s ombudsperson identifies irregularities at two summer camps

The ombudswoman for children’s rights protection Tamara Plamadeala discovered irregularities at two summer camps. She visited the camps after parents whose children holidayed there complained that minors’ rights are violated, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communiqué from the Center for Human Rights. When at “Zambetul” camp in Vadul lui Voda town, Tamara Plamadeala ascertained that the wooden houses that are nine square meters in area accommodate by nine minors in multilevel beds, while the rooms are not appropriately ventilated and remain unclosed at night. She also said that there was no drinking water. The water is purchased from a shop located outside the camp to which the children can go only accompanied by educators. The camp’s administration blamed the state authorities, saying that they did not transfer the money needed to cover 80% of the cost of the tickets as they promised. Therefore, the camp has debts to a number of service providers and cannot improve the living conditions, the communiqué says. Tamara Plamadeala said she will ask the Ministry of Education and Youth to take into consideration first of all children’s needs. She demanded that the administration of the camp remove the shortcomings as soon as possible and create decent living conditions for the children. The parents said that the teachers from “La Popas” camp situated in Malovata village in Transnistria use violence against the children. They said that their daughters were taken out at night and forced to do physical exercises. Then, they were splashed with cold water, told to take off their shoes and forced to clean the toilets because they did not sleep, but made noise. According to the quoted source, the administration of “La Popas” and the educators denied the accusations, saying that the girls did those acts of their own accord. They said their only blame was that they did not announce the parents when the girls went too far. The police of Ustia village were asked to investigate the case. The ombudswoman committed herself to monitor the investigation and intervene if the abuses are proven.