The emergency placement center for child victims and potential victims of violence, neglect, exploitation and trafficking was inaugurated today, June 2, in Chisinau. The event was organized on the occasion of International Children’s Day.
The center offers temporary, crisis accommodation or long-term placement and is equipped with rooms for creative activities in the process of psychological and educational counseling.
At the opening, Stela Grigoraș thanked the representatives of IOM, UNICEF and the center’s team for their interest, diligence and perseverance to change children’s lives for the better.
“Very often children need specialized protection and assistance to overcome the negative experiences and traumas they have gone through in order to give them a new start in life. The protection of the child and ensuring the personal dignity of each child is the responsibility of the state, but it is also an obligation of each of us as a parent and as a citizen of this country”, said the minister.
At the same time, Ms. Grigoraș emphasized that this service comes to fill a gap that exists in the child protection system, and by opening such a center we will be able to contribute to our greatest goal – to bring well-being to every child in the Republic of Moldova.
Present at the event, Antonio Polosa emphasized the considerable efforts made by national partners and the international community to combat human trafficking, which is a crime that affects the lives of many people, including children.
“The launch of this center gives us hope that more girls and boys will be able to be protected from the danger of human trafficking. They have the right to a second chance to lead a decent life, safe and free from danger and violence”, noted the IOM Head of Mission.
The opening of the Emergency Placement Center for child victims and potential victims of violence, neglect, exploitation and trafficking will allow the creation of conditions for the harmonious development of children at risk.
In this context, CAP director Diana Bojenco thanked the partners for their support and goodwill, reiterating: “We have come a long way to enjoy this service today, which will bring added value to the field of child protection. Our goal is to bring these services to as many children at risk as possible”.
According to a study carried out by UNICEF, every second child in Moldova is a victim of some discipline methods that involve physical violence. Last year alone, the police were informed about 1000 cases of violence against children.
“Today we are taking a huge step in realizing and implementing the respect of children’s rights. The fact that every child has the opportunity to come to this center where they can get professional assistance is a great achievement of both the Government and the development partners”, said the UNICEF Representative in Moldova, Nune Mangasaryan.
The event was attended by the Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Stela Grigoraș, the UNICEF Representative in Moldova, Nune Mangasaryan, the head of the IOM Mission in Moldova, Antonio Polosa, and the Director of the Center for Assistance and Protection of Victims and Potential Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (CAP), Diana Bojenco.
CAP is one of the most important and requested service providers for victims of human trafficking in the Republic of Moldova. The center was created in 2001 by the International Organization for Migration, Mission in Moldova.
