The International Conference on the Protection of Children against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is taking place in Chișinău
On 18 November, the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in partnership with the International Center La Strada, organized the International Conference “Strengthening the Protection of Children against Exploitation and Sexual Abuse through Evidence-Based Policy Making.”
The event marked the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, launched in 2015 by the Council of Europe to raise public awareness and highlight the importance of preventing this crime, prosecuting offenders, and protecting victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. Organized under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the conference brought together senior officials, international experts, and practitioners to discuss how data and evidence can lead to more sustainable child protection policies against exploitation and sexual abuse.
Elena Botezatu, Executive Director of the International Center La Strada, moderated the thematic panel “Evidence-Based Policy Making.” Together with international experts, she defined the concept of evidence-based policies, examined what types of data are needed, and how states implement this approach in practice. According to Elena Botezatu, evidence-based policies are the only way to transform identified problems into effective solutions. Data provide not only a realistic picture of phenomena but also the direction in which action must be taken to achieve sustainable and responsible results.
The conference included thematic sessions, interactive workshops, and discussions on leveraging data from child protection services, involving survivors in policy development, and strengthening international cooperation to prevent reoffending abroad. Participants were also addressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Daniella Misail-Nichitin; the Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru; the Head of the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe, Agnes von Maravić; and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, Falk Lange.