Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, caring and protective environment. When children are at risk, it is essential that every institution involved is equipped to respond effectively and provide the support they need.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNICEF Moldova will continue their cooperation to strengthen child protection mechanisms and ensure that interventions are clear, coordinated and tailored to children’s specific needs. The priorities were discussed by Alexandru Bejan, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, andDeyana Kostadinova, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova, during a meeting marking the beginning of the UNICEF Representative’s new term in office.
One of the key priorities is the development of a national mechanism for managing cases involving child victims and witnesses, unaccompanied children, and children at risk. The mechanism will clarify the roles and responsibilities of the institutions involved and strengthen cooperation among the police, child protection and social services, as well as education and healthcare sectors.
Another important area of cooperation is Moldova’s participation in the Lanzarote Committee, together with the promotion and implementation of European best practices for preventing and combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will also review and adapt its internal procedures to ensure that police interventions in cases involving minors are clear, coordinated and responsive to their specific needs.
The cooperation will further focus on strengthening the professional capacities of police officers and child protection professionals through targeted training and capacity-building activities.
Particular attention will be given to risks in the digital environment and to cases in which children are recruited by criminal networks for activities such as drug trafficking, theft or sexual exploitation. In such situations, intervention strategies will take into account each child’s age, vulnerabilities and individual needs.
