The principal destinations for Moldovan migrants are Russia and Ukraine. Some of them are unaccompanied children who are looking for work. They are easy prey for traffickers seeking to exploit them.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes

Direct intervention –Tdh and its local partners organise preventive activities to support children and their families in Moldova. Looking after children who have fallen victim to exploitation in Russia and Ukraine also involves transnational cooperation between the three countries aimed at maximising the support that can be provided and facilitating the children’s reintegration into their communities.

Protection against all forms of abuse – Tdh supports the local authorities in identifying and assisting vulnerable children in communities.

Support for authorities – With a long history in advocacy work, Tdh strives to ensure that specific child-protection measures are incorporated at transnational, national and local level in all directives aimed at combating child trafficking.

Movement, games and sport – The MOVE project, which also operates in Romania and Albania, aims to create a network of sports instructors who use psychosocial activities to help vulnerable young people. Children increase their self-confidence through games and sports. It is recognised that this self-confidence is essential in getting young people to integrate socially, and is also a factor in preventing exploitation and abuse.


Results achieved in 2008

Victim support – 206 victims of abandonment or child trafficking were identified in collaboration with the authorities and returned to their families or community of origin.

Prevention – Workshops were organised for 7352 children and 369 adults on the prevention of exploitation and child trafficking.

MOVE – 44 sports instructors were trained in the psychosocial approach for children. More than 700 sports events were organised in 18 towns.


Challenges to be taken up

Political barriers – The majority of Moldovan children in Russia and Ukraine come from Transnistria, in Moldova. This region has functioned independently since the war of 1991, even though it is not recognised as an independent state by the international community. Political relations are therefore somewhat delicate. National priorities – Ukraine has problems of its own in implementing a national child protection system. The problem of street children or young victims of exploitation or trafficking is perhaps not a priority in this country.


“Women and children are treated like a commodity” Interview with Daniela Gobjila, Head of finance at Tdh Moldova for the last 4 years

What motivates your work?
In Moldova, women and children from our country are treated like a commodity. The minute I set up an internet profile, I receive messages from abroad offering me visas or residency permits. If I can help to make these offers less tempting, and help in the fight against child trafficking, that makes me happy.

What are the biggest challenges in your work?
Moldovan bureaucracy – no question! Not only are the procedures long and complicated, they are also constantly changing.

How much progress do you feel is being made?
I have somewhat mixed feelings. On the one hand, I hope that we are on the right track, but on the other, there is constant corruption, which is preventing us from making real progress.

What situations have particularly affected you?
In Moldova, we are faced with extremely high emigration levels. Lots of parents leave the country, leaving their children behind to fend for themselves or to be looked after by grandparents. They miss out on everything. They often have no choice but to sacrifice themselves and find work so they can feed their families.