CHILDREN IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA SITUATION ANALYSIS 2016 This report was produced with the support of UNICEF Moldova. Authors: Dennis Arends, Mariana Ianachevici, Ala Nemerenco, Arina Turcan Quality assurance: Camelia Gheorghe Acknowledgements The Situation Analysis was developed by a team of consultants: Mariana Ianachevici, Ala Nemerenco and Arina Turcan under the leadership of Dennis Arends. Quality assurance review was completed by Camelia Gheorghe. The research was supported by UNICEF Moldova. We are thankful to UNICEF programme team colleagues who provided expertise and contributed extensively to the review of the document. UNICEF is immensely grateful for the support and extensive reviews provided by government counterparts: the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family , the Ministry of Justice and other relevant ministries, state institutions and government agencies, including the Ombudsperson for Child Rights. Stakeholders consulted during the field research included national-level policymakers, local public authorities, professionals, representatives from non-governmental organizations, as well as adolescents and youth. UNICEF is very grateful for their invaluable contributions to the research as well. Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with due acknowledgment using the following reference: UNICEF, ‘Children in the Republic of Moldova: A Situation Analysis’, 2016. All correspondence should be addressed to: UNICEF Moldova Office, 131, 31 August 1989 Str. Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Copyright © 2017 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Cover photos: © UNICEF Moldova/2017/Foca Chisinau-2017 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 6 ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 1: COUNTRY PROFILE AND DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT .................................................................. 14 1.1 REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: BASIC SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA ..................................................................................................... 14 1.2 DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND MIGRATION ............................................................................................................................... 15 1.3 ECONOMY AND LABOUR ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 1.4 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY ...................................................................................................................... 19 1.5 POVERTY, INCOMES AND INEQUALITY ..................................................................................................................................... 20 1.6 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DECENTRALIZATION .................................................................................................................. 22 1.7 LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ON CHILD RIGHTS ............................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 2: THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING ................................................................... 26 2.1 THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING ................................................................................... 26 2.2 BARRIERS TO THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING.................................................... 27 2.2.1 The enabling environment for social assistance ..................................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 The availability, access and quality of social assistance programmes .............................................................. 31 2.2.3 The demand for social assistance programmes ..................................................................................................... 32 2.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION .................................................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER 3: THE RIGHT TO HEALTH AND NUTRITION .................................................................................. 36 3.1 THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH AND NUTRITION ................................................................................................. 36 3.2 BARRIERS TO THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO HEALTH AND NUTRITION .................................................................. 39 3.2.1 The enabling environment for health and nutrition ............................................................................................... 39 3.2.2 The availability, access and quality of health and nutrition services ................................................................. 42 3.2.3 The demand for health and nutrition services ........................................................................................................ 45 3.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION .................................................................................................................................................. 48 CHAPTER 4: THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION ....................................................................................................... 52 4.1 THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION .................................................................................................................... 52 4.2 BARRIERS TO THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION ..................................................................................... 55 4.2.1 The enabling environment for education ................................................................................................................ 55 4.2.2 The availability, access and quality of education services ................................................................................... 58 4.2.3 The demand for education services ......................................................................................................................... 61 4.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION .................................................................................................................................................. 63 CHAPTER 5: THE RIGHT TO A NURTURING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT ........................................................ 67 5.1 THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO A NURTURING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT......................................................................... 67 5.2 BARRIERS TO THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO A NURTURING AND SAFE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT ............................. 69 5.2.1 The enabling environment for a nurturing and safe family environment .......................................................... 70 5.2.2 The availability, access and quality of child protection services ........................................................................ 72 5.2.3 The demand for child protection services ............................................................................................................... 75 5.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION .................................................................................................................................................. 76 CHAPTER 6: ACCESS TO JUSTICE ................................................................................................................... 79 6.1 THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE ........................................................................................................................ 79 6.2 BARRIERS TO THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE ......................................................................................... 81 6.2.1 The enabling environment for access to justice ...................................................................................................... 81 6.2.2 The availability, access and quality of justice for children services ................................................................... 84 6.2.3 The demand for justice for children ......................................................................................................................... 89 6.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION .................................................................................................................................................. 90 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Key macroeconomic indicators in the Republic of Moldova, 2012–2018 ................................ 17 Table 2. Stunting prevalence in children aged under 5 years in the Republic of Moldova (per cent), 2012 ....................................................................................................................................................... 38 CHILDREN IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: A SITUATION ANALYSIS Page | 2 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Demographic trends in the Republic of Moldova, 2005–2016 ............................................... 15 Figure 2. Remittances as a share of GDP in selected Europe and Central Asia countries, 2014 ........ 18 Figure 3. Trends in the Republic of Moldova’s Human Development Index components, 2010–2014 19 Figure 4. Percentage