The number of children in residential institutions in Moldova continues to be high, even if the number of annual admissions to the residential system is lower than that of leavings. This is one of the findings of a study that was presented in a two-day workshop that started on May 6. The event involved representatives of the authorities, civil society and the development partners, who are to submit proposals for working out the plan of action for implementing the child protection strategy for 2014-2020, IPN reports.
The same study shows some children in the residential system experienced multiple placements. This thing is dangerous as it seriously affects the development of the child, determining mental instability and psychophysical retardation. The authors of the study said the transfer of the child from one residential institution to another should be avoided. Another finding is that children of different ages are placed in an institution and the large discrepancies in ages is a reason for concern as the small children may be unsafe in the company of teens and young people. This problem should be addressed as a priority.
Attending the event, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Ruxanda Glavan said constant effort has been made to ensure the observance of the rights of all the children and to improve the situation as regards the deinstitutionalization of children. “However, statistics and studies show that the children continue to be placed in boarding schools. Regretfully, such phenomena as abuses and violence against children persist. We practically weekly witness situations when the families neglect their children and we should thus think about actions to reduce such a phenomenon to zero,” she stated.
Boris Galca, adviser to Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici on health protection and social development, said the protection of children’s rights represents a priority for the Government. Moldova made considerable progress in reforming the child protection system, while the policies and documents formulated until now are being implemented and are not gathering dust on shelves. The strategy that is being worked out will have a beneficial effect on children.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Margarita Tileva said a series of results have been achieved in this field and the reforms done until now will serve as a solid basis for continuing to improve the child protection system. “We need an inter-sector and inter-ministerial cooperation mechanism so that we together could achieve good and, more important, measurable results. We must overcome the individualist approaches and work together for the children of the Republic of Moldova. The creation of a clear implementation framework will help set very clear roles and responsibilities for all the players involved so as to avoid superposition,” she stated.
