Moldova presents progress reports on implementation of UNCRC

Moldova presented its second and third progress reports on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the 50th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which took place in Geneva on January 20, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a press statement from the Moldovan Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child. In the statement, Minister Galina Balmos said that the provision of safeguards for the rights of children is a priority for Moldova. Though the reports cover a time-frame from 2000 to 2006, reforms in the area of children's rights protection are in progressive development. In 2007 the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child was established, which, among other, supervises this area, including adoptions, and prevention and countering of domestic violence. The Ministry pointed out that, compared with 2000, the volume of social services offered to families with children has increased. The amount of compensatory benefits for utility bills has doubled, while care benefits for disabled children rose by 3,5 times. The size of the lump-sum childbirth benefit rose by 11 times. In 2008 there was adopted the Law on social assistance, which represents a monthly sum paid to an underprivileged family for the purpose of ensuring a guaranteed minimal monthly income. The social assistance is established following an evaluation of the gross monthly receipts of a family. Another recently adopted legal instrument is the Law on prevention and countering of domestic violence. The Family Code was also enhanced with provisions banning corporal punishment of the children. A single marriageable age of 18 years has been established for both men and women. To provide further safeguards against violence, there has been adopted a National Action Plan on the prevention and combating of violence against children, covering 2009-2011. Galina Balmos informed that in 2008 the Ministry conducted 12 missions to repatriate 44 children without parental care from a number of countries. The session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child was joined by representatives from 18 countries. The full text of the reports can be found on the Ministry's webpage.