More resources need to be devoted in Moldova to identify and support victims of child sexual exploitation, including from the most vulnerable groups, according to report released Thursday.
The joint Council of Europe and ECPAT International Country Overview underlines that the country’s socioeconomic situation and high migration rates have left many children vulnerable to violence, neglect, and exploitation.
The war in neighboring Ukraine has added further strain to the Moldovan child protection system, with refugee children facing heightened risks of trafficking and exploitation.
While Moldova has comprehensive criminal legislation against child sexual abuse and exploitation and has recently approved the creation of a Specialized Commission for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of the Lanzarote Convention, the Country Overview identifies a number of issues that still need to be addressed.
Reporting of sexual offenses remains low and child-friendly justice procedures would benefit from further improvement. There has been a significant increase in sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated by technology: out of the 1,745 calls made in the first half of 2021 to the online platform that provides counseling to children who experienced online sexual abuse, 89% (1,554) of the calls were from children. Most of reports referred to sexual extortion.
Furthermore, traditional norms and beliefs in the country contribute to the lack of awareness around gender-based violence among the country’s child population.
The Country Overview contains suggested ways forward to further improve the protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse in Moldova, including:
- Closing existing loopholes, such as the provision that requires offenders who benefit from sexual services provided by children to know for certain that the child is below 18.
- Enhancing protection for children in the context of travel and tourism.
- Establishing a single entity responsible for coordinating all online child safety efforts.
- Integrating education on the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation into the core curriculum rather than offering it as an optional subject.
- Improving access to justice for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, with a focus on simplifying legal procedures and increasing child-friendly practices within the justice sector.
- Putting in place mechanisms to involve children in developing and implementing state policies, programs, or initiatives concerning the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation, taking into account their evolving capacity.
The document was presented today at an event in Chisinau, bringing together representatives of national authorities, civil society organizations, Council of Europe and ECPAT International to discuss its main findings and recommendations.
