Moldova will strengthen the protection of children from being illegally taken abroad
The government approved at a meeting on Wednesday a draft law on the special protection of children from being taken abroad or illegally detained. It is meant to strengthen the protection of children in vulnerable situations related to family disputes and to ensure the application of international norms in this respect. The document establishes a clear procedure for handling such cases and provides free legal aid to people affected by the illegal movement of a child. The draft also regulates enhanced legal support for families in difficulty. Courts will be able to take additional measures to protect the child, such as confiscation of a passport or a temporary ban on leaving the country when there is a risk of unlawful detention. At the same time, the new legislation will enable authorities to cooperate more effectively with international agencies to facilitate the location, protection and, where necessary, safe return of children to the country. Effective information sharing will also allow for verification of the conditions of a child's visit when it takes place outside the country. Also, the Cabinet approved a draft law on Moldova's accession to an international convention, on the basis of which Moldovan court decisions will be enforceable in other countries. This will make it possible to better coordinate the interaction and reduce the intervention and reaction time in situations when the interests of a child are affected. According to the draft, illegal movement of a child implies the removal of a child under the age of 16 from the country of his/her habitual residence for a period of more than 30 days without the written, notarized consent of another legal representative. //13.11.2024 - InfoMarket.
