Kids seeking all-night gaming at cybercafes raise concern

The Centre for Children Rights (CCR) urges authorities to undertake urgent measures in order to compel administrators of night institutions and Internet-cafes to prohibit access of teenagers during night time hours without their parents’ or legal representatives’ consent, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to CCR, there is only a single decision of the Chisinau Municipal Council by means of which the access of minors to cybercafes during classes is prohibited, but it does not prohibit the access of minors to these institutions during the night. At the same time, the aforementioned decision can be applied only in the municipality of Chisinau, and has no legal force over the rest of the country’s settlements. CCR says that although the law-enforcement bodies organise raids in leisure institutions, the administrators of many Internet-cafes continue to allow access of children during the night. CRR backs its statements by explaining that parents are frequently expressing discontent regarding this situation. The Centre’s private investigations carried out in such leisure institutions in Chisinau also proved that children are allowed to stay at cybercafes overnight.