Chisinau hosted the National Conference on violence against children in the Republic of Moldova

The Conference was opened by Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, who emphasized the importance of a consolidated effort to combat violence against children in Moldova and highlighted the progress made so far.

"Without frontline investment we will not be able to solve any problem, especially one as complex as violence against children. That is why the challenge of the RESTART reform is to make these essential investments. We have created around 40 new positions and tripled the number of child rights protection specialists. We need to have at least one person taking on the role of coordinator at local level to unify the efforts of all frontline professionals. Only by creating a robust and strong system will we be able to achieve significant results in combating this multidimensional phenomenon," said Minister Buzu.

Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in the Republic of Moldova, followed up by emphasizing the need for continued investment in child protection and intersectoral collaboration to ensure a safe environment for all children.

"Last year, 8,000 cases of violence against children were registered, including 1,000 cases of sexual violence. This is a serious problem affecting entire communities. Violence against children not only involves humiliation but can be fatal. We need to take a comprehensive and long-term approach, involving the whole of society, from social workers and police officers to teachers and young people, to prevent and combat it," stated Maha Damaj.

During the conference, Miljana Grbic, Head of the WHO Office in the Republic of Moldova, highlighted the impact of violence on children's health and the crucial role of multisectoral interventions. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between different institutions to combat this phenomenon.

"Abuse and violence are not only a serious human rights violation, but also a global health crisis. Children affected by violence and abuse suffer long-term mental, emotional and physical health consequences. We cannot allow this to happen, which is why we need joint action to tackle this problem. Medical workers, as the first people to interact with abused children, must be trained and equipped to identify and help these children from the outset. There must be zero tolerance for violence against children," said Miljana Grbic.

Jeff Bryan, Chief of the USAID Mission to the Republic of Moldova, discussed USAID's continued support for child protection initiatives and the importance of international partnerships.

"It is essential to be inclusive and work together to ensure the safety and well-being of children. The Republic of Moldova has made significant strides in reforming the child protection and care system, especially in preventing and combating violence. In the digital age, the internet offers extensive opportunities for learning and growth, but it also poses significant risks. It is important to be vigilant and proactive in preventing cyber-bullying and exposure to harmful content. By educating parents and children and implementing strict safety measures, we can create a safer online environment for our young people," said Jeff Bryan.

Vasile Coroi, People's Advocate for Children's Rights, spoke about the legislative challenges and the need to strengthen mechanisms to protect children's rights.

"Protection of children from violence is a fundamental right. Analyzing data on reported cases, we see that the number of reported cases is significantly lower than the actual number. A respectful growing up environment supports the development of responsible citizens and research shows that those who have not experienced violence are less likely to become violent. Preventing violence in one generation helps reduce violence in the next," stated Vasile Coroi.

During the conference, the vulnerabilities of children online and the challenges in providing a multidisciplinary response to cases of online violence were discussed. Elena Botezatu, Executive Director of the International Center "La Strada", presented data and evidence on these challenges.

The event ended with the presentation of conclusions and the formulation of recommendations and commitments from the participants to stop the phenomenon of violence against children. Vasile Cusca, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, responsible for the social field, gave the closing speech, emphasizing the strong commitment of the Ministry to continue efforts to protect children's rights.