The right to education is violated most often in the Republic of Moldova. Among other rights considered to be often violated, children also mentioned the right to health, to right to a healthy environment and the right to opinion. People’s ombudswoman for children’s rights Maia Banarescu spoke in Parliament in the name of children, presenting a report on the observance of children’s rights in Moldova in 2016, IPN reports.
Maia Banarescu said that in discussions with children from the country, these said that the right to education is encroached upon by the large number of hours that they have to spend at school, the loaded school program, the substantial homework, etc. The children also mentioned the lack of conditions in schools owing to the absence of sanitary facilities, the lack of teaching and medical staff. They said they would like to do sports, but some of the schools do not have football fields or gyms. They consider the right to health is violated because they are not informed about the made diagnosis or how they should be treated. The children also noted the lack of recreational places in many communities, etc.
Among the problems that need to be solved, Maia Banarescu also mentioned the de-institutionalization of children, faith of minors who live on the street, prevention of juvenile delinquency, conditions of holding children under investigation, living conditions of children in penitentiaries up to the age of three alongside their mothers, etc. The ombudswoman suggested instituting an additional budget line intended for these children. The money would be used for food and clothes. Currently, the state ensures only their right to health. About 20 children live together with their mothers in national penitentiaries.
“Violence against children is a separate problem. There are disagreeable traditions and stereotypes to educate by beating and shouting at children is considered normal. We have violence in schools, but we have rather good results in the repotting of such cases,” added Maia Banarescu.
The problem of “invisible children” also needs to be addressed by the state. The given category includes children from the left side of the Nistru and those who do not have identification papers. These children do not have the right to education and health services on the right bank of the Nistru. A study that will be completed this yearend will contain recommendations about the right to nationality of children from the left bank of the Nistru. Maia Banarescu said a recommendation based on the already collected data is to work out a formula for recognizing the civil status documents because a child without a birth certificate in Moldova cannot enjoy rights on the country’s territory.
