PM dissatisfied with government efforts to crack down on juvenile delinquency

What the central authorities are doing to crack down on juvenile delinquency is inadequate, Prime Minister Zinaida Zreceanyi said today at a joint meeting of the boards of 7 governmental departments, Info-Prim Neo reports, citing the Government's press service. The information presented by the ministries indicated increasingly growing rates of juvenile crime and incidence of diseases among the youth due to the lack of attention and parental care. Zinaida Greceanyi instructed relevant officials to finalize within a week a plan of actions on combating juvenile delinquency and to disseminate it to the district authorities for implementation. According to the data presented at the meeting, each year some 30,000 minors attend correctional education programs. Nearly 100,000 persons under 18 years of age are left behind by migrant parents. Police are keeping an eye on over 4,300 juvenile delinquents. Earlier this week the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported an almost 19 percent decrease in the rate of juvenile delinquency – in the first six months of this year there were recorded 719 offenses committed by or involving juveniles. 796 minors were involved in performing those offenses, 620 of whom attended no studies and had no jobs. Out of 245 persons found to be practicing prostitution, 32 were minors. According to the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, 92 social centers provide assistance to 3,207 children. With the help of the Social Investment Fund of Moldova, in 2008-2010 there will developed networks of community-based, integrated social assistance services in six districts, which will include 34 centers, including 21 for children and youth.