Foreign expert recommends imposing moratorium on institutionalization of children under 3

International expert Peter Evans, who assessed the reform of the childcare residential system of Moldova, recommended imposing a moratorium on the institutionalization of children younger than three, except for children with health problems. However, the institutionalization period for these children should not exceed six weeks, until a family is found for them or they are placed in a family-type home, Info-Prim Neo reports. In his assessment report, the expert says that the UN puts emphasis on the fact that children under three should not be accommodated in residential institutions, apart from exceptional cases. The authorities should develop services to support children of an early age in their families or contract NGOs to provide such services. The moratorium on the institutionalization of children under three should be put not later than the end of 2013. “The authorities will have to recruit emergency and short-term caregivers specialized in looking after disabled children. If the recruitment of parent assistants for children with severe disabilities is not possible, there should be developed alternative services in small family-type homes. It is rather improbable that such specialized services will be necessary in every district. Thus, they should be developed in two or three districts or in municipalities,” Peter Evans says in his report. During 2007-2012, the number of children in childcare institutions has decreased by 54%. Nevertheless, more than 5,500 children who remained in institutions need special attention within the reform, especially those of an early age and the disabled ones. The assessment of the reform of the childcare residential system was carried out on the Government’s initiative, with support from UNICEF Moldova. Peter Evans was assisted by Terre des Hommes Foundation and a local sociological research company.