The citizens who see children or adults with children begging on the street are asked not to give them money and to immediately call 112. To sensitize the public opinion to the risks to which these children are exposed, the Municipal Children’s Rights Protection Division relaunched the campaign “Don’t give them money anymore! Help us protect them”. Within the campaign, a social advertisement will be broadcast in trolleybuses in Chisinau and on TV and informative brochures will be disseminated, IPN reports.
According to the acting head of the Municipal Children’s Rights Protection Division Lucia Caciuc, begging with the involvement of children expanded. Chisinau is attractive to begging children and teens from all over the country. These often beg voluntarily. There are also cases when they are forced to beg by grownups or even by criminal groups.
Lucia Caciuc noted that most of the beggars are supervised by the local authorities from their place of residence, benefit from allowances or are supported by specialized NGOs. As long as the community continues to give them money, they will not give up begging. For many of the beggars, beginning is an easy source of revenue. “By giving money to begging adults and children out of pity, the citizens support and contribute indirectly to child exploitation and analphabetism among children,” she stated.
Ombudswoman for children’s rights Maia Bănărescu said it is a crime when the child’s legal representative, instead of offering the conditions needed for development, involves the child in beginning. For some parents, begging became a lifestyle. These argue they need more money besides that provided by the state, while some of the mothers return to the street even after they are penalized. “The involvement of children in begging cannot be justified even if the social problem – poverty – is invoked,” stated Maia Bănărescu.
Tudor Borș, of the Chisinau Police Division, noted 20 persons were investigated for not fulfilling their parental duties so far this year. Exploitation of children in begging carries a fine of 450 to 750 lei or community service.
