A national conference is taking place today in Chisinau on strengthening the capacities of social workers on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Lanzarote Convention) in the Republic of Moldova.

The conference brings together over 60 domestic practitioners representing social services from across the nation, as well as Government and Parliament representatives, Council of Europe officials, and international experts from an array of Council of Europe member States. Discussions cover the identification, reporting obligations and management of child sexual abuse cases from the perspective of social workers. As a result, the conference will help to both sensitize the target group practitioners on the Lanzarote Convention and the phenomenon of child sexual abuse, as well as to collect feedback and information for the planning and development of future training in collaboration with relevant national partners.

This conference is the first national event of its kind to be organised in the Republic of Moldova within the framework of the Council of Europe project Protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the Republic of Moldova (2018-2020) and it contributes towards the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2016-2020)