Child protection specialists learn to create meaningful spaces for child participation

To encourage meaningful involvement of children in the processes that affect their lives, 45 child protection specialists from across the country participated on July 2–3 in training sessions dedicated to promoting child participation in decision-making, especially in social assistance, directly concerning them, thereby contributing to the development of a more inclusive and responsible social system.

The training sessions were organized by UNICEF, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, in collaboration with Partnerships for Every Child (P4EC), within the UNICEF project “Better Care for Children,” with financial support from the Government of Sweden.

The trainings are part of a broader effort to expand Advisory Boards of Children /ABC/ nationwide—an initiative aimed at providing children with a safe and effective framework for expressing their opinions and actively participating in community life and public policies that directly affect them.

The group of participating specialists has the role of supporting the creation and proper functioning of ABCs at both local and national levels. The training represents an important step toward strengthening child participation mechanisms and building a social protection system more responsive to their real needs.

According to Anastasia Gruzin, Deputy Head of the Child and Family Protection Policy Directorate within the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection: “This training marks an important step in expanding child participation platforms—mechanisms essential to ensuring that children have a real voice in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.”

Similarly, Viorica Dumbrăveanu, UNICEF Child Protection Officer, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote child participation and contribute to creating a favorable environment for their engagement in community life.

Natalia Semeniuc, project coordinator at P4EC, highlighted that the ABC model has been successfully tested over the last decade. “Institutionalizing these structures at the level of each STAS will contribute to building a more efficient social protection system focused on the real needs of children, providing them not only with a voice but also with an authentic space for engagement,” she explained.

During the training, participants explored essential topics such as: the child’s right to express an opinion, international participation standards, the benefits of child involvement in decision-making, and practical steps for creating and efficiently operating ABCs.

In addition to the training, P4EC will provide mentoring and technical support to specialists during the establishment of councils at the local level. A practical guide will also be developed, including applicable tools, methodological recommendations, and examples of best practices to ensure the sustainable support of this initiative.