An important assessment took place within the Council of Europe project "Preventing and protecting children from violence including in the digital environment in the Republic of Moldova”. Marking the final phase of three years of project implementation, a steering committee meeting was held to take stock of the results and achievements, while at the same time outlining priorities and strands of activities for a follow up phase as of 2025. The meeting has been attended by government representatives, members of the Steering Committee, and representatives of donor states to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Republic of Moldova, and the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, as observers.
Representatives of authorities have outlined that the project has provided support in advancing legal reforms related to children in conflict with the law, in producing methodologies necessary for monitoring the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention, but also for professionals working in penitentiary and probation institutions and services. So far, over 600 professionals have been included in training courses or workshops and seven reports and reviews have been produced since 2022 alone.
The Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, Falk Lange, listed several challenges and goals that the project aims to address, including protecting the rights of refugee and migrant children coming from Ukraine. "The Council of Europe is ready to extend its support to authorities and professionals by providing expertise to ensure protection and prevention of violence for both Moldovan and migrant and refugee children. For example, children's access to qualified mental health professionals and trauma-informed care is an area of work that the Council of Europe is ready to include in future support," said Falk Lange.
The Head of the Chisinau office also stressed the importance of protecting children in all spheres of life, with a focus on countering sexual abuse and exploitation, including in the digital environment.
" Continued efforts are needed to strengthen child protection systems to provide services for children and judicial processes that do not re-victimize or traumatize, as well as to address underlying issues such as poverty and discrimination, and to promote a culture of respect for children's rights," Falk Lange added.
In her greeting message, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of the Interior, Daniella Misail-Nichitin mentioned the fact that during these three years more professionals obtained a better professional qualification to be able to identify and fight against violence against children.
The current project focuses on the protection and promotion of children's rights in the digital environment and also addresses the protection of children from violence, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as the children in contact and conflict with the law. It is implemented within the Action Plan of the Council of Europe for the Republic of Moldova (2021 - 2024) between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024.