Every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and fear-free environment - a space where they can enjoy freedom, support, and opportunities for a better future. From 18 to 21 November, Moldova is hosting a major European event dedicated to identifying solutions to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
The international conference “Strengthening the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse through Evidence-Based Policies” and the 46th meeting of the Lanzarote Committee brought together more than 150 experts, government officials, civil society representatives, and practitioners from over 30 countries, united by the same mission: a safe childhood. Assuming the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe marks the beginning of a new stage for our country - one in which international commitments are transformed into tangible results.
The event is organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Council of Europe, and the International Center “La Strada”, and is taking place in Chișinău under the auspices of the Moldovan Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The official opening was attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Daniella Misail-Nichitin, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru, Agnes von Maravić, Head of the Child Rights Department of the Council of Europe, and Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, who highlighted the responsibility institutions bear toward every child and the importance of international cooperation in combating sexual abuse.
In her opening address, Minister Misail-Nichitin emphasized that in the digital era, protecting children requires rapid responses, close cooperation, and policies grounded in real data and the needs of victims:
“No child invisible. No victim forgotten. No offence tolerated. Every institution has a clear role, and cooperation between them makes the difference in the lives of children who need support”.
One of the central points of the discussions is the Barnahus model, developed in Moldova with the support of international partners. It offers children an integrated experience - interview, assessment, and psychological support - all in one child-friendly space adapted to their age. The model reduces retraumatization, ensuring that interventions are supportive and that children feel protected and reassured. Expanding it nationwide is a necessary step to ensure equal access to services that respect the dignity and emotional needs of every child.
Throughout the four days, participants are exploring ways in which the state can prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors, strengthen responses to crimes committed through digital technologies, collaborate more closely with civil society to obtain relevant data on the scale of the phenomenon, and improve the mechanisms through which children at risk receive immediate and appropriate assistance. The discussions also focus on developing protection and specialized intervention mechanisms in the face of digital challenges and constantly increasing online risks that affect children’s safety.
The agenda also includes reviewing the recommendations of the Lanzarote Committee and the ways in which they can be applied in practice, presenting developments within the national framework for preventing sexual abuse of children, modernizing investigative techniques, and training specialized personnel. In addition, participants are analyzing solutions for how digital information and analytical tools can contribute to more efficient case management.
The 46th Plenary of the Lanzarote Committee is looking into how states are implementing the Convention, with a focus on online-facilitated abuse, self-generated images, and methods for collecting relevant national-level data. Participants discuss legislative initiatives, recent practices, and solutions adopted in other countries to better understand the evolution of the phenomenon and to adjust the necessary responses.
Moldova sends a clear message: protecting children is not only an institutional obligation but a priority. Building a coherent system, based on cooperation, accurate information, and European standards, is the chosen path to ensure that every child is safe, both offline and online.