Authorities in Chisinau know very little about the situation of children in the Transnistrian region. they don’t hold any data on the actual number of children, including children at risk, those left behind, or with special educational needs. Also, nothing is known about the measures to ensure legal protection for adopted children or waiting for adoption in the breakaway region. These are some of the findings of the 2018 Children’s Rights Report presented today by Children’s Ombudswoman Maia Bănărescu.
Maia Bănărescu said the problem of documenting children, in particular in the Transnistrian region, persists. Some major impediments are the human factor, the poor knowledge of the legislation, and the failure to follow protocol. According to Maia Bănărescu, a serious problem is the failure to document the children in the Transnistrian region whose custody has been determined by the de facto authorities by orders which are not recognized on the right side of the Nistru.
The Report also notes the problem of establishing and respecting visitation schedules among divorced parents. Another issue related to divorced spouses is the failure to secure the other parent’s consent when taking children out of the country. The authorities don’t have effective solutions to this, says the Ombudswoman.
Another problem are the high rates of deaths among young children as a result of neglect. Last year saw some terrifying cases, with children found frozen to death in the street, children who died in home fires, newborns dumped in waste bins, children injured or dead after falling from a height and so on.
The Report also shows that the number of juveniles in detention remains more or less constant, and Maia Bănărescu says the policy in this field must change.
The Ombudswoman reiterates that a child’s right to life and to adequate health care is a key obligation of the state.