Every semester, the education authorities record on average 25 suspect cases of sexual abuse against children in the community, the family of the education institution, show data of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research. It happens at a time when there is an insufficient number of specialists who would ensure the protection of children at the local level. A problem is also the low level of education of some parents, who do not know how to explain to children what they should do not to become victims of sexual abuse. The conclusions were formulated in public hearings staged by the parliamentary commission on culture, education, youth and mass media, IPN reports.
Liberal MP Lilian Carp said there is no clear delimitation of the responsibilities of the children’s rights protection divisions. There are placement centers founded by different NGOs and the authorities know less the situation and eventual irregularities there. The responsibilities as to education and child protection should be clearly delimited so that, if the child stays in a placement center, this could study at any school they want. This way, the social integration of children who remained without parental care will be ensured.
Head of the Pre-University Education Division Valentin Crudu said the Ministry of Education ordered to create a commission to examine the recent case of sexual abuse of a boarding school minor. During April-May, the education management at the given boarding school was assessed, but there were submitted no objections. The conclusions will be yet formulated by the commission and the law enforcement agencies.
Sergiu Olshanski, deputy head of the Center for Combatting Trafficking in Persons, said the director of the boarding school allowed the student to be absent from school for a long period. When inspections were planned, the businessman who abused the child was contacted and told to bring this back. An inquiry revealed acts of torture against children of this boarding school for poor standing.
People’s Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights Protection Maia Banarescu said she visited the given boarding school for several times and ascertained that the children there are non-communicative. She had discussions with these children and informed them about the hotline that they can use when they face a problem. The current child protection system is incomplete. The activity of psychologists in education and placement institutions should be improved as there is insufficient knowledge of child protection measures in society.
Corneliu Tarus, of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, said 98 complaints about sexual abuse against children were recorded in 2016. The community social assistants are responsible for all the categories of beneficiaries who are in a vulnerable situation. But a specialist is needed to deal exclusively with children’s protection.
The participants in the hearings agreed that the students should be explained at school aspects of corporal integrity, education for health and sexual education. Besides schools, the nongovernmental sector should also become involved in educating society as to the protection of children.
