New child protection method to be applied in five Chisinau localities

A pilot project to implement a new child protection system aimed at developing the autonomy of the local councils for children’s rights protection will be carried out between February and May 2008 in five localities of the municipality of Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. A t cooperation agreement in this respect was signed by the municipal Direction for Protecting Children’s Rights, the Representative Office of the Swiss Foundation “Terre des hommes” in Moldova and the mayoralties of the Ciorescu, Cruzesti, Budesti, Tohatin and Ghidighici villages on February 26. The activities planned to be carried out as part of the Fight Against Child Trafficking (FACT) project form the basis of the agreement. The given project is implemented by the Representative Office of “Terre des hommes” (Lausanne) in partnership with the Moldovan Save the Children NGO. Its aims are to reactivate and strengthen the local councils for children’s rights protection, to train councils’ members to identify and protect the children that are victims of parental negligence, abuse, exploitation and trafficking. According to Violeta Teutu, local coordinator for the FACT office in Chisinau, a child protection unit formed of a social worker, a family doctor, a sector inspector, a psychologist or a director for education will be set up in each of the five communities as part of the pilot project. Two times a week, the four specialists together with two animators will carry out educative activities with the children at risk from the localities. “Terre des hommes” will organise training courses for the members of the units and the animators selected by the mayor’s office and will monitor the activity of the local councils for children’s rights protection. The Swiss Foundation will provide 1,500 USD that will be used to assist the selected children victims and their families and will disburse 800 USD to equipping the rooms for group activities. Under the agreement, the Foundation will also assist the local councils for children’s rights protection and mayors’ offices in working out the councils’ budgets and plans of action and will support the fund attraction activities so as to ensure the continuity of the activities.