World Vision leads dialogue on child protection in Moldova

Chisinau, Moldova – World Vision led a two-day dialogue on Children's Rights and the importance of protecting these rights: commitments and responsibilities, bringing together experts from education, including teachers, school directors, and other key decision-makers.

This initiative was part of the “Empowering Educational Institutions: Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Adolescents in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine” project, funded by Plan International and the Disaster Emergency Committee.

The dialogue aims to enhance child protection and safeguarding practices within Moldova’s educational sector, with a particular focus on vulnerable children and adolescents, including refugees.

Keynote speakers included Angela Cara, Doctor of Pedagogy and Research Associate Professor, and Virginia Rusnac, Director of the Regional Centre for Psychological Assistance (CRAP) under the Moldova Ministry of Education and Research. Their sessions focused on the legal framework for child protection, institutional structures, and the importance of intersectoral collaboration.

In her role as a trainer, Cara emphasised the value of experience-sharing and intersectoral collaboration in improving child protection efforts. “The interactive panels, case studies, and practical sessions enabled participants to address their challenges and propose actionable recommendations,” she said. 

“A key takeaway was the media’s essential role in raising public awareness and promoting children’s rights. Only through responsible and accurate reporting can the media help foster a society more committed to respecting children’s rights. This event reinforced that protecting children’s rights is a shared responsibility, and success depends on the collective effort of all stakeholders,” added Cara. 

Through case studies and discussions, we emphasised again the responsibility of every institution in the country – schools, local authorities, and NGOs – in monitoring and ensuring children’s rights. The way cases are addressed in the media is especially important, as improper reporting affects vulnerable families already suffering.

The second day featured an interactive dialogue between child protection experts and education specialists, aimed at formulating national recommendations for improving child protection practices. A significant discussion point was a comparative analysis of child protection policies in Moldova, Romania, and Poland. Participants worked in groups to analyse real-life case studies, enhancing the ability of teachers and staff to collaborate with the media to ensure children’s rights and safety are upheld.

A major focus was also placed on the challenges related to media coverage of child protection issues. Participants discussed how media can impact children’s safety and the responsibility of educational institutions in managing these interactions.

“Through case studies and discussions, we emphasised again the responsibility of every institution in the country – schools, local authorities, and NGOs – in monitoring and ensuring children’s rights. The way cases are addressed in the media is especially important, as improper reporting affects vulnerable families already suffering,” shared Tamara Macari, Director of the “Ștefan Holban” school in Cărpineni, Hîncești. 

The event significantly contributed to the capacity of teachers and school staff to design and implement effective child protection and safeguarding practices. The recommendations emerging from these discussions will be presented to Moldova’s Ministry of Education and Research to help shape nationwide policies. 

This dialogue underscored the need for continued communication between educational institutions, authorities, child protection experts, and other relevant actors in building a safer, more inclusive education system that supports all children, regardless of their socio-economic background or origin.

Story and photos by Cristina Lelic, World Vision Moldova Operation Team