UNICEF has been working in Moldova since 1995. Our current activities in child protection aim to build a protective environment for all children–no exceptions. A protective environment includes all the necessary supportive elements within the family environment, community and society in which the child lives, or specific elements of the governance system that guide basic social services and the conduct of professionals in contact with children. Preventing and protecting children from abuse, exploitation and neglect is a global priority for UNICEF. Our actions are guided by the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
In Moldova, our current priorities are to:
- contribute to the improvement of national legislation, norms, standards, institutional framework and capacities for child protection;
- ensure adequate integrated protection measures for neglected, abused, abandoned, and homeless children, including ones in conflict with the law;
- prevent and reduce abandonment and institutionalization of children and promote family-type placements;
- support prevention of child trafficking, develop a plan to combat trafficking and provide assistance and reintegration services for child victims of abuse and trafficking;
- contribute to the social reintegration of children and youth with special needs.
Contributions to child care system reform
UNICEF created family- and community-based models of services as alternatives to institutionalization, including five day-care centers for different categories of children, as well as a new, integrated, child-centred, family-based social service in Ungheni district. Adoption by the Government, with UNICEF technical and financial assistance, of the National Strategy on Child and Family Protection in June 2003 and development of two local strategies for Cahul and Ungheni districts provides a framework for further development of social services. We also developed qualitative standards for different child protection services and helped in the establishment of social work as a profession through support to universities to provide specialized training. An important role in child protection is played by the National Alliance of NGOs working in child protection (more than 100 NGOs), the creation of which was supported by UNICEF. We also contribute to capacity-building in civil society by providing small grants to support new child protection services.
Contributions to juvenile justice reform
There is no information available.
Contributions to reform of the child protection system
Our approach to trafficking is comprehensive, focusing on prevention as well as the rehabilitation and assistance of victims. We work with governmental and non-governmental organizations on prevention efforts to stop children being trafficked, and rehabilitation and assistance of children who have been trafficked.
UNICEF developed Guidelines for the Protection of the Rights of Child Victims of Trafficking in South Eastern Europe, setting out minimum standards for the care and protection of victims. UNICEF also supports the National Plan of Action against Trafficking. We support Life Skills Education for children from residential institutions throughout Moldova to prevent youth unemployment and trafficking. We have created specialized services, including a referral system for child victims of neglect, abuse, exploitation and trafficking. UNICEF helped create a Child Friendly Wing of the Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Trafficking (in co-operation with IOM). The Centre for Psychosocial Support, another UNICEF-supported service, provides free long-term services for child victims of abuse and exploitation, while the Maternal Centre supports vulnerable mothers, including those who have been victims of trafficking and are at risk of abandoning their children.
