Europe

Moldova

Fighting against child migration, exploitation and abuse

Terre des hommes (Tdh) started to work in Moldova in 2004, with projects to fight against exploitation and abuse, by supporting national authorities cross-border-cooperation. In 2011, 9,452 people benefited from the activities implemented.

The principal destinations for Moldovan migrants are Russia and the Ukraine. Some of the migrants are unaccompanied children seeking work. They are easy prey for traffickers seeking to exploit them.

Direct intervention

Tdh and its local partners organise preventive activities to support children and their families in Moldova. Looking after children who have fallen victim to exploitation in Russia and the Ukraine also involves transnational cooperation between the three countries. This is aimed at maximising the support that can be provided and facilitating the children’s reintegration into their communities.

Support for authorities

Tdh supports local authorities in identifying and assisting vulnerable children in communities. With a long history in advocacy work, Tdh strives to ensure that specific child-protection measures are incorporated at transnational, national and local level in all directives aimed at combating child trafficking.

Exercise, games and sport

The MOVE project, which also operates in Romania and Albania, aims to create a network of sports instructors who use psychosocial activities to help vulnerable young people. Children increase their self-confidence through games and sports. It is recognised that this self-confidence is essential in getting young people to integrate socially and is also a factor in preventing exploitation and abuse.

Centered at 28.369885 47.411631 6

Places of intervention : Ungheni, Chisinau, Soroca

Projects : Fighting against exploitation and abuse, Supporting national authorities, Cross-border cooperation

In joint cooperation with : Ministry for Social Welfare, Family and Children, Salvati Copiii, Way Home, International Organization for Migration

Delegate : Roman Poznanski

Expatriate staff : 1

National staff : 33

Budget : 567'295 CHF

Gallery

Latest News

16 May 2012 • Child protection systems Romania, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova
Hungary: National Background Research on Non-Asylum Seeking Foreign Unaccompanied Minors

While hundreds of children cross legally or illegally the borders of Hungary every year and do not apply for asylum, no research has ever been published on a very specific and vulnerable population: non-asylum seeking foreign unaccompanied minors. On the other hand, the issue ... Read more
11 Apr 2012 • Trafficking and exploitation Romania, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova
Article in the 'Weltwoche': "This picture shows a child as a potential criminal"

L'image d'un petit garçon rom tenant un pistolet en direction des lecteurs, en 1e page de la Weltwoche cette semaine, a entraîné de vives polémiques en Suisse. Cette photo a été prise à Gjakova, une ville du Kosovo où Tdh épaule les enfants vulnérables. Read more

Side Notes

Children’s situation

32% of children aged 5 – 14 are forced to work
20% of children drop out of school in Moldova

Results 2011

85 municipalities in Moldova are now involved in the network aiming to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and trafficking. 383 extra stakeholders were trained last year to do so and notified 1,537 cases of vulnerable children. Solutions have been found for 378 of them so far. Thanks to Tdh, 61 schools now pay teachers to organise psychosocial activities after school and during the holidays to increase children’s well-being, their social inclusion and prevent them from migrating. 2,386 children benefitted from them in 2011. Tdh assisted the repatriation process for 26 children found in Russia and Ukraine. Other solutions were found to protect 19 Moldovan children in Russia and 12 in Ukraine, the great majority of which were reintegrated in their biological or extended families.

Testimonial

Between hope and doubts – Daniela shares her opinion on the situation of children in Moldova. To achieve that women and children are no longer seen as a commodity, she fights on a daily basis.

- Daniela, head of finance in Moldova