UNICEF takes steps to liquidate discrimination against children in Moldova

UNICEF started preparations for a new country program with Moldova, which is to be launched in 2013. The final objective is to liquidate discrimination against children, Info-Prim Neo reports. “UNICEF wants to make sure that all the children, not only those form Chisinau and the rich ones, attend school, are protected from violence and are brought up in a family, not in an institution,” UNICEF Representative in Moldova Alexandra Yuster said in a meeting of the National Council for Children’s Rights Protection. She stressed that Moldova made significant progress in ensuring the observance of children’s rights. However, there are many challenges hampering reaching out to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, who need certain services most of all. The program will be implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with the Government of Moldova, civil society and the parents. It will include a new component aimed at changing the people’s attitude. “Not the law must stop somebody from hitting a child, but the mentality, the way of thinking. The attitude will be the decisive factor in this differentiation. We will also continue to work at the upper levels because when a law is adopted, there must be identified the financing needed to implement it,” said Alexandra Yuster. A number of players will become involved in the implementation of the program. There will be organized roundtable meetings, training seminars and other events. “Most of us have prejudices that must be overcome, especially when interacting with the little ones,” said the UNICEF Representative in Moldova. The country program for Moldova will be implemented in all the country‘s districts in 2013-2017.