A moving documentary about the struggle of Moldovan migrant women was screened at the ODEON cinema on the 6th of March 2013, followed by a public debate on social the costs of migration.

Thousands of women leave Moldova seeking a better life for their children who are often either left behind or taken abroad, which results in broken families and the loss of language and traditions. The ‘Mama Illegal’ documentary follows three Moldovan women who leave their small children behind in search of work in Austria and Italy. Before and during the journey they take the risk of dealing with smugglers, hoping that they will arrange for them to become cleaners and domestic workers upon arrival. Due to their irregular status in the host countries they are unable to exercise their basic rights (e.g. those to medical care or limited working hours), let alone to visit their families back in Moldova. Covering the span of seven years, the film offers an authentic view on poverty and suffering provoked by separation and loneliness of these women and their children. The film also uncovers hypocrisies, prejudices and stereotypes governing public opinion in Europe. 

After screening the film to a large audience, a public debate was held during which high-level officials, diplomats, and Diaspora representatives expressed their views on migration and its consequences. read more...

On 5-7 February 2013 the 2nd Workshop on Regional and International Child Protection Standards took place within the “Addressing the negative effects of migration on minors and families left behind” project. The workshop was attended by around 18 representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family of the Republic of Moldova, and aimed at familiarizing them with the main international legal frameworks regulating child rights protection. All the participants had the possibility to discuss the notion of child vulnerability from the rights-based perspective, scrutinize the main European and International Conventions regulating child protection, and discuss best practices and concrete examples of legislation and policy in different countries, such as Georgia, Switzerland, Sweden, etc. The workshop was led by Ms. Daja Wenke – an independent consultant and researcher on child rights/ child protection.

Afterward, the project results, achievements and plan of action for the next 9 months of the project were discussed on the 8th February during the 3rd meeting of the Inter Institutional Technical Committee, organized in Moldova. The meeting was attended by the main implementing partners such as the Ministry of Labour, Social Policies of Italy, the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family of the Republic of Moldova, the Bureau for Relations with Diaspora, Diaspora project partners and IOM Moldova. All the project partners highlighted the high profile of the initiative and the importance of further extending the project activities in order to increase the impact on both Moldovan migrant workers in Italy and their children and families left behind in Moldova. The project has been granted a non-cost extension until September 2013, kindly provided by the EU and the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

The Internet has become a reality of the contemporary world and today we hardly imagine the life without accessing this unlimited virtual space. However, used as a source of information and knowledge, and as a way of communicating instantly, the Internet is also hiding a danger. Children, especially, can fall prey to human traffickers or became victims of sexual abuse especially while accessing Internet at night and unsupervised.

On January 24th, at the launch party of SigurOnline.md interactive portal, Daniela Misail-Nichitin, President of the International Center "La Strada", reported that „about 80% of children in cities and 70% of children in rural areas now have access to the Internet.” A recent study conducted by our Center revealed that 13.4% of cases in children aged 12 years received indecent Internet proposals from unknown persons, and 29.3% of cases in teenagers aged 16 years got direct proposals of a sexual nature. Daniela Misail-Nichitin reiterated that in this study, many children expressed interest in learning more about how to navigate safely the Internet.

Namely, this fact has fueled the idea of the International Center "La Strada" team to initiate an interactive portal www.SigurOnline.md, in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and State Agency MoldData. The portal’s goal is to provide the widest information to children about Internet advantages, how to safely use the virtual space as well as what dangers may it lurk. Being designed as child-friendly portal, this is not only informative but also interactive. It will give young users access to useful information about how to protect themselves from content and actions online with abusive character, how to develop a responsible attitude for the content posted, and how to report eventual abuse happen online. Read more...

Christmas and New Year are a perfect opportunity to bring joy and happiness to people in need, especially disabled children, making their life brighter and trying to help them to overcome their hardhips in life, and offer them opportunities. Thus, in light of the long-standing, traditional and fruitful cooperation established by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission to Moldova with the Municipal Directorate for Protection of Children’s Rights (MDPCR), more than 160 children with special needs from Chisinau municipality enjoyed great surprises and gifts for the winter holidays. read more...