Human Trafficking in [Moldova] [other countries]
Street Children in [Moldova] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Moldova] [other countries]
 

Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children

In the first ten years of the 21^st Century - 2000 to 2009

Republic of Moldova Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Economic reforms have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing government controls. [The World Factbook, U.S.C.I.A. 2009]

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Moldova. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

*** FEATURED ARTICLES ***

Abandon Of Underaged

www.reginapacis.org/en/34.php

At one time this article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here]

There are no “street children” in Moldova.  Rather, there are “children of the street”.  A child of the street still has a family, but it is far away, maybe somewhere in the village, the family is very poor, the child quarreled with his family or cannot stand his parents who are addicted to alcohol.  In this case the family is something that the child does not consider as positive, the family does not give the child directions in the system of real values of life; the child does not recognize his family and prefers to stay apart from it; or from time to time the child returns to the family, but remains in a state of conflict with it.

Gazza Supports Emergency Appeal For Moldova's Abandoned Children

"Their life is miserable, just an existence. In the worst cases the orphanages have no hot water, medicines or electricity. The plumbing has broken, toilets are blocked with feces, which pour out into the grounds of the orphanage, windows are cracked and the children are fed on porridge or rice. The children are covered in sores; they live two or three in a cot on mattresses reeking of urine.  In some cases I've seen girls chained by their ankles to the bed at night," Paul continued.

*** ARCHIVES ***

UNICEF - The Big Picture

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - The net primary school attendance rate was approximately 98.0 percent. According to the government, about 800 children did not attend school; however, press reports indicate that the number is higher, particularly in rural areas.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN - The law mandates government-provided free, compulsory, and universal education for at least nine years. Many inadequately funded schools, particularly in rural areas, charged parents for school supplies. While not illegal, such fees contradicted the government's policies and resulted in some parents keeping their children at home. The government and local authorities provided annual assistance to children from vulnerable families to buy school supplies. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that net primary school enrollment was 86 percent and secondary school enrollment was approximately 73 percent, with little difference in the rates of boys and girls.

The situation of children in orphanages was generally very poor. Due to lack of funding, children's institutions had major problems, including inadequate food, "warehousing" of children, lack of heat in the winter, and disease. According to the Ministry of Education, there were approximately 11,500 institutionalized children. Not all institutionalized children were orphans; the number of children entrusted to the government by needy parents or by parents leaving the country to look for work reportedly continued to grow. The government estimated that parents of approximately 20 thousand children worked abroad and placed their children in boarding schools or entrusted them to relatives.

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – The country was a major country of origin for women and children trafficked abroad for sexual exploitation and men and children who were trafficked to Russia and neighboring countries for forced labor and begging.

Concluding Observations Of The Committee On The Rights Of The Child (CRC) - 2002

[47] While noting the amendment to the Penal Code regarding child beggars, the Committee notes that the negative effects of the current economic crisis and the consequent deterioration in the family environment have resulted in an increasing number of street children in Chisinau and other cities.

Messages from Moldova

www.neukol.org.uk/blogs/voyage/2004/11/messages-from-moldova.html

At one time this article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here]

26% of street children were either disengaged from their families due to abandonment, fleeing domestic violence, were orphaned or had only occasional contact due to poor relationships. All of this group were homeless and lived on the streets in abandoned cars, sewers and with groups of other children in venues provided by their group leaders/protectors.

Moldova

www.jdc.org/nonsect_currresp_moldova.html

At one time this article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here]

"CHILDREN OF THE STREETS" - PROVIDING A CENTER FOR CHILDREN IN ADUL LUI VODA (2007-PRESENT) - Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, despite recent progress. At least one child under seven is abandoned each day in Moldova, often in the earliest days of life. These children are forced to live on the streets. Other 'children of the street' were either disengaged from their families due to fleeing domestic violence, were orphaned, or have only occasional contact due to poor relationships.

Abandon Of Underaged

www.reginapacis.org/en/34.php

At one time this article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here]

There are no “street children” in Moldova. Rather, there are “children of the street”. A child of the street still has a family, but it is far away, maybe somewhere in the village, the family is very poor, the child quarreled with his family or cannot stand his parents who are addicted to alcohol. In this case the family is something that the child does not consider as positive, the family does not give the child directions in the system of real values of life; the child does not recognize his family and prefers to stay apart from it; or from time to time the child returns to the family, but remains in a state of conflict with it.

Scotland’s Youngsters And Traveling Fans Win The Hearts And Minds In Moldova

everychild.org.uk/pressReleases.php?id=101

At one time this article had been archived and may possibly still be accessible [here]

DETAILS - The young players heard about how the Center provides support for Moldova's street children; facilities like a day-care center, access to education and medical care, as well as social rehabilitation all contribute to the long-term goal of integrating children back into mainstream education and preventing street children from entering institutional care

One Child Abandoned Each Day In Moldova, Says UNICEF

At least one child under seven is abandoned each day in Moldova, often in the earliest days of life, according to UNICEF. One third of those abandoned by their parents are less than four days old.

Moldova Suffers Disaster By Depopulation

As a result of a decade of exodus, the traditional family is disintegrating: separation and divorce are common and children often end up being cared for by relatives and neighbors, falling prey to violence and exploitation. The issue of the “feminization” of poverty is also causing concern. Women have fewer economic opportunities than men and they have been leaving out of a desire to better their lives and those of their children. But in what is still an overwhelmingly matriarchal society, this too often results in broken families and abandoned children.

Gazza Supports Emergency Appeal For Moldova's Abandoned Children

"Their life is miserable, just an existence. In the worst cases the orphanages have no hot water, medicines or electricity. The plumbing has broken, toilets are blocked with feces, which pour out into the grounds of the orphanage, windows are cracked and the children are fed on porridge or rice. The children are covered in sores; they live two or three in a cot on mattresses reeking of urine. In some cases I've seen girls chained by their ankles to the bed at night," Paul continued.

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Human Trafficking in [Moldova] [other countries]
Street Children in [Moldova] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Moldova] [other countries]