Combating violence against children in the Republic of Moldova

What is the project?

The project objective is to contribute towards improving the state response to violence against children in the Republic of Moldova.

It supports strengthening the country’s child protection framework and judicial system with focus on the protection of children against sexual violence, promotion of child-friendly justice practices and the rights of the child in the digital environment. It is a direct follow-up to the project Protecting children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the Republic of Moldova (2018-2020) and builds on the experience and findings revealed during this Phase I.

The project is implemented by the Children’s Rights Division in cooperation with the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau.

What is the legal context?

The Republic of Moldova ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Lanzarote Convention) in 2011. The Committee of the Parties to the Convention, also known as the Lanzarote Committee, is charged with monitoring the implementation of the Convention. The Republic of Moldova participated in the 1st monitoring round dedicated to the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the circle of trust (2014-2017) and in the 2nd one on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse facilitated by information and communication technologies (2017).

Other important standards taken into consideration during the project implementation include the Council of Europe Guidelines on child-friendly justice (2010) and the Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment.

The project itself promotes the implementation of these international standards and builds on the progress and work already carried out at national level. Relevant national standards and policies include the Law no. 338 of 15.12.1994 on the rights of the child, Decision No. 434 of 10.06.2014 on the approval of the Child Protection Strategy for the years 2014-2020, Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2017-2020, as well as the conclusions and recommendations of the Roundtable “Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: Challenges and Best Practices”.

What do we aim to achieve?

Raising awareness and prevention

Improving legal and policy framework

Strengthening the interagency cooperation

Supporting training and capacity building

News

Back Online seminars on the Guideline for the practical application of the GD 270/2014

In the period of 1 – 3 September 2021 the Council of Europe project Combating violence against children in the Republic of Moldova orgnised three online seminars on the Draft Guideline for the practical application of the intersectoral cooperation mechanism for the identification, assessment, referral, assistance and monitoring of child victims and potential victims of violence, neglect, exploitation and trafficking approved by Government Decision no. 270/2014.

The online seminars were attended by different groups of professionals working for and with children, in particular teachers, social assistants, doctors/medical assistants and police officers from all regions of the country.

The seminars are aimed at improving the skills of professionals to apply effectively and efficiently the Instructions on the intersectoral cooperation mechanism for identifying, assessing, referring, assisting and monitoring of child victims and potential victims of violence, neglect, exploitation and trafficking, as well as at receiving additional feedback on the Draft Guideline.

In her welcoming remarks Giulia Re, the Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau underlined ”The child well-being and his/her harmonious development should be a priority for the entire society. We all have a moral obligation to prevent and stop any kind of violence against children, but professionals who work for and with children are legally obliged to intervene in such cases.”

Igor Chisca, Head of the Policies for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and Families with Children Department of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection noted “The guide is an important and long-awaited document, which comes to explain the instructions provided by Government Decision 270/2014. We thank the Council of Europe for its efforts to strengthen the national system for the protection of the rights of the child against all forms of violence.”

The Draft Guideline has been prepared by the Council of Europe at the official request of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection and following the consultation with all relevant authorities and partners.

The activity falls within one of the Project’s intermediate outcome 4 “Improved skills and know-how of professionals to respond to violence against children and promote child-friendly practices.”

Chisinau 3 September 2021

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Who we work with?

Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Ministry of Justice, Public Prosecution Service, National Institute of Justice, Police Academy, Supreme Court of Justice, Lawyers Union, Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, State Chancellery, NGOs, acclaimed experts in the field.

Who benefits from the project?

The project targets judges, prosecutors, lawyers, law enforcement professionals, social workers, doctors, teachers, educators, parents. It ultimately benefits children at risk of violence and child victims and witnesses of violence.