Ireland

The State party does not have control over the Transnistrian region, which impedes the implementation of the Convention there. In Chisinau, a large number of children in street situations is noted.

There are many problems that need to be worked on in Moldova. Violence is seen as a valid educational tool and the exploitation of children in the business and sexual sectors is not fought against enough. Generally, the situation for children is anything but ideal and Moldova has a lot to improve.

The Committee is seriously concerned that the incidence of sexual abuse and exploitation of children has increased, including within the family, and in particular involving girls. It is also concerned about reports of inaction by law enforcement officials in investigating cases and even direct involvement of such officials as perpetrators of such abuse.

The Committee recommends to strengthen adolescent reproductive health education in all schools to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, including by strengthening the network of youth-friendly health centres.

The Committee welcomes the legislative measures taken to further protect the rights of children with disabilities, efforts to integrate children with disabilities into mainstream education and efforts to increase social allowances and support for caretakers and children with disabilities. But children with disabilities continue to face discrimination and are not effectively integrated into all areas of social life, including the education system.
To improve the situation, the Committee recommends to continue to strengthen efforts to implement the requisite legislative framework and policies for the effective protection of the rights of children with disabilities, and take all the measures necessary to ensure that such children are integrated fully into all areas of social life.

The Committee notes the efforts on health sector reform and progress made in health goals, including the significant decrease in infant mortality and under-5 mortality rates, improvements in the rate of stunting and high preventive vaccination coverage. Meanwhile, the Committee is concerned about the still-high maternal and child mortality rates, especially at home due to preventable causes of death, a decrease in immunization rates, inadequate healthcare facilities, inadequate access to hygienic sanitation facilities and clean drinking water.

The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen both the quality and availability of services and programmes of mental health for children, and in particular take measures to increase the number of specialists in children’s mental health care. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure adequate facilities specifically for children and outpatient services for psychosocial care and rehabilitation in all regions of the State party, with a particular focus on suicide prevention, including establishing a 24/7 crisis hotline.

The Committee is concerned that the State party remains a country of origin for trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual and labour exploitation. The Committee recommends to take measures to prevent children from being exploited, especially in the agricultural sector, by ensuring that the relevant legislation is enforced.

The Committee is concerned about the absence of a specialized juvenile court system in the State party, the length of pretrial detention and ill-treatment, including physical beatings, solitary confinement, and children being held in adult detention facilities.
To improve the situation, the Committee urges Moldova to ensure the provision of qualified and independent legal representation to children and strengthen reintegration, rehabilitation and vocational programmes.

While noting the expansion of the network of civil status offices into remote locations, the establishment of an electronic birth register, and increased monitoring, the Committee recommends that the State party continue to strengthen efforts to ensure that all births in the State party are registered, including of Roma children, children born at home, children born to adolescent mothers and children born out of wedlock.

While noting efforts to combat corporal punishment as a means of discipline, which is still widespread and culturally acceptable in the State party, the Committee urges the State party to enforce the legislative prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings.