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 Trainings for educators on identification and prevention of child sexual abuse

In September 2021 the Council of Europe project Combating violence against children in the Republic of Moldova organised three two-days trainings "Protective teachers, protected children. Preventing child sexual abuse in kindergarten. Kiko and the Hand training for kindergarten teachers". The trainings were attended by 50 educators and managers of kindergartens from several regions of the country.

The Kiko and the Hand trainings were delivered by the national consultant Daniela Simboteanu. The trainings aimed to improve the skills of professionals to detect and prevent child sexual abuse, as well as to provide them with tools to address children, parents and kindergarten administration to combat this phenomenon.

The training were based on the Training of Trainers Manual addressed to kindergarten and preschool teachers. This Manual was developed within phase I of the project Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in the Republic of Moldova, as an attempt by the Republic of Moldova to put into practice the provisions of the Lanzarote Convention, that is to translate it into practical guidance and resources for kindergarten and preschool teachers and other professionals working with children between the ages of 3 and 6. The Training of Trainers Manual is inspired by the Council of Europe awareness raising materials on Kiko and the Hand, which help children understand that their bodies belong to them, that there are good and bad secrets and good and bad touches.

The Training of Trainers Manual was coordinated with and approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The activites fall 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 23 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.