Issues related to preventing and combating juvenile delinquency, the assistance for children at risk, the role of the police in ensuring child rightswere discussed at the meeting of the Children's Ombudsperson with the Minister of Internal Affairs.

On 27 July, the Ombudsperson for Children's Rights, Maia Bănărescu, met with the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, AlexandruJizdan.

During the meeting it was discussed the role of MIA employees to identify, track and support children at risk. Everyone underlined the importance of police cooperation with local authorities and civil society in order to prevent and fight crime among children.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the opportunity to create a specialized department for the assistance to minors or a center for temporary placement, which could be an effective mechanism in ensuring child rights in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Maia Bănărescu noted the importance of involving local police officers to inform the students in special themed classes, aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency. She also stressed the importance of proper training for IMA employees working with minors.

Children's Ombudsperson and the Minister of Internal Affairs agreed that the guardianship authorities, the local specialist in child protection, the community social worker, the family doctor and the officer in the district police must fulfill their duties in the most responsible way and work together in the purpose of enforcing child rights.