- The subject that we want to discuss today is an old one, but because of this reason is a difficult one: the sexual exploitation of children in Moldova. And if a few years the activities of the International Center "La Strada" to inform were focused on the danger of trafficking of children, in 2010 we warned the audience for the first time, through a social advertising spot, but also a series of actions in the field, on other forms of child abuse, namely anchoring / request children and adolescents online with the purpose of sexual abuse and sexual abuse of children by foreign citizens, said Ana Revenco, president of the International Center" La Strada "in opening press conference on March 14th with the theme " Moldovan children, sexually abused by foreign citizens". The social advertising spot, presented during the conference, far from reflecting an invented reality - all the scenes are based on common elements of sexual exploitation cases of children by foreign citizens, assisted by the International Center "La Strada" from 2005 to present. And he has generated from past awareness campaigns numerous reports and signals, less expected by the players, who have targeted these very topics and which can be divided absolutely conventional into two categories.
The first category includes cases of sexual abuse of children, especially girls with ages ranging from 3 years and above. Seriously is that child abuser comes from the near environment- mother’s lover, family friend, neighbor, godparent of baptism, uncle, etc. And that in most cases it's someone left to take care of children, parents are gone to work abroad. Because of the increased vulnerability of child the community, or so-called friends and family, abuses in the most perverse way possible, having a logical excuse: "The child doesn’t have with whom to talk to so there is nobody to punish me". The seriousness of the situation is followed by the sexual abuse that child had to experience in the family or in the near environment makes him highly vulnerable to various forms of sexual exploitation, as is the involvement of children in prostitution. In case of children abuse of age 11-13 years, an incident of abuse can lead to others - the abuser boasts with this "trophy" and then the victims are more vulnerable to other series of abuses: the victims are labeled as "village’s prostitute"; with antisocial or immoral behavior, they are made responsible for what happens to them. The real responsible for the consequences are not punished, it is totally ignored the fact that the minor is living in fear, cannot break out from this vicious circle, in fact, he is trying to survive. Who to ask for help when everybody makes him responsible for the abuse that was committed against him?
The second category concerns to a less-publicized phenomenon: children sexually abused by foreign citizens who came to Moldova with this purpose. The analysis of the International Center "La Strada" actually confirms previously recorded signals on a newer phenomenon - sexual tourism involving children, sexual abuse via Internet. The last one is aimed basically for the boys from different regions of the country, including the Transnistrian region, brought to Chisinau, of age 12-15 years, which the abusers manipulate them through primary needs for this age: food, shelter, pocket money, affection, attention from the "adult", through his interests also - access to the Internet, computer games, etc. Although some have families, their parents do not take care of them, being deprived of affection, the child usually doesn’t feel well at home, so that manipulation is most often evidenced by the offered gifts (cellular, brand clothing and footwear, other goods of interest for children), children are lured into cafes, playgrounds, walking together, such moments are assuring to abuser a close and constant "communication". There are cases when some parents are happy when someone proposes to take the child on a trip, to provide them an "occupation". In fact, speaking of manipulation, the decisive factor is often not the goods or money offered, but the attitude of care, simulated affection, making the child "accomplice" at the abuse, buying his trust and feeding the perception that such things are normal. The manipulation continues with the exposure of child to pornographic materials and images, where appear peers of the same sex, age, after those children are encouraged to try same things. After that photographing the nude body, followed by other embarrassing situations. The abuse takes place, usually in a private environment (mostly in rented apartments), even at the abuser’s place and may be with more children.

Usually the abusers are simple tourists in Moldova, their primary purpose is having sexual relations with children. But there are cases when they are in the Republic of Moldova as specialists, experts of various foreign agencies or protagonists of philanthropy/charity actions, which show interest in the welfare and future of Moldovan children. Children are recruited either through the internet/social networking websites, either by locals or people trusted by abusers. Recruitment can also take place in chain - those who already "communicate" with the abuser are encouraged to bring other boys from the same environment. Abusers and their accomplices may also act under the pretext of socialization environments of sexual minorities.
What common elements of these cases could serve as signals that should put the caregivers of children on guard, to alert the community in general?
- The child may be missing the nights from home, justifying that he was invited by a new friend who's an adult stranger; the foreigner or his intermediate could get acquainted with the caregivers to get the permission to become friends with the child.
- Appear some valuables (cell phone, jewelry, clothes, and computers even) or cash.
- The child may have some ambiguous emotional states - from apathy, depression up to aggression manifested openly and spontaneous.
- The child avoids talking about new friends, how he spends time with them, and when asked more insistently, he becomes aggressive.
- The child can quit school or skip classes, spending more time in internet cafes or usually with older friends.
Among the recommendations that are require the specialists of the International Center "La Strada" suggest, on the one hand, the continuous information of children about safe browsing online, about the risks posed by social networks. On the other hand, the need to create opportunities for online reporting of the abuse and/or request assistance, improvement of legislation in order to define and recognize the child landing/claim actions as a crime. It is imminent, also, the arrival capacity and resources of law enforcement agencies and other empowered institutions to combat online sexual abuse, including monitoring the websites, domains that promote, encourage, including the distribution of sexual abuse materials with children, having sexual relations with minors. And ultimately, encourage internet providers, social network managers to promote a code of ethical conduct in cyberspace.