World Children’s Day is marked on November 20. In this connection, the deputy head of the Education Division of the Chisinau City Hall Andrei Pavaloi said that the institution he represents directs all its efforts to create opportunities that respect and promote the rights of every child, IPN reports.

"Quality education, ensuring a safe environment and unconditional support are our commitments to you, the future of our community", said Andrei Pavaloi.

The number of children has continuously decreased in Moldova, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). On January 1, 2024, the total number of children under 17 was about 508,000, which is 21% of the population with habitual residence. At the same time, the number of children born in 2023 was by 11% lower than in 2022.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection at the end of last year said that almost 11,600 children, 72.9% of whom were from rural areas, were at risk. Of the number of children at risk, 338 were disabled. About 10,000 were neglected children. 547 children experienced violence, and 209 had their parents or the sole parent deceased. Compared to 2022, there were registered by 6.2% more children subjected to violence.

At the same time, given that in 2023 the absolute poverty rate of the population as a whole was 31.6%, increasing by 0.5 percentage points compared to 2022, children are poor in a proportion of 30.2%,1.8 percentage points up compared to the previous year, NBS data also show.

As for children's education, 1,479 early education institutions worked in 2023, 76.3% of them being in rural areas. There were 1,201 general primary and secondary education institutions, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection’s report.