{"id":237779,"date":"2006-03-15T17:53:00","date_gmt":"2006-03-15T17:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.moldova.org\/2006\/03\/15\/the-credit-for-the-results-must-go-to-moldova-unicef-is-only-providing-support-10811-eng\/"},"modified":"2006-03-15T17:53:00","modified_gmt":"2006-03-15T17:53:00","slug":"the-credit-for-the-results-must-go-to-moldova-unicef-is-only-providing-support-10811-eng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/the-credit-for-the-results-must-go-to-moldova-unicef-is-only-providing-support-10811-eng\/","title":{"rendered":"The credit for the results must go to Moldova. UNICEF is only providing support"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

(INFOTAG Interview with UNICEF Representative to Moldova, Ray V. Torres) <\/p>\n

Infotag: What are the biggest problems faced by children in Moldova today? <\/p>\n

Ray Torres.: The first problem is poverty and what poverty creates. Poverty leads to abandonment, neglect, malnourishment, and abuse. <\/p>\n

The second problem is the number of parents who have gone abroad. 25% of the economically active population of Moldova is living abroad. The remittances they send home account for 27% of Moldova’s GDP. This money is good for the country. At the same time, according to UNICEF studies, more money does not necessarily result in better living conditions for children. Why? Because kids do not live on money. They live on care, love, affection, education and health, they need a family. <\/p>\n

At present, one third of children in Moldova are living with only one parent or without both parents. Mostly this is because their parents are abroad. This number is huge and the authorities should be concerned about the situation, development, psychological and emotional status of these children. <\/p>\n

Infotag: What programmes is UNICEF currently implementing in Moldova? How do you assess its activities? <\/p>\n

R.T.: Since UNICEF started in Moldova in 1995, we have invested very heavily in mother and child health issues. The progress made by Moldova in health has been simply astounding. Infant mortality and maternal mortality rates have dropped dramatically. Immunization coverage, vaccination against major diseases, is practically 98%. This is mainly the result of government activities. I insist on the government role because what you usually hear is that “the government is not doing this, government is not doing that…” That success is the government’s effort, Moldova’s effort. The credit for the results must go to Moldova. UNICEF supports the country by bringing new technologies, providing training, and bringing equipment. But the day to day work is done by a whole army of doctors and nurses. I think that maybe UNICEF support is becoming less and less vital in that area and we are very glad. <\/p>\n

We are also very concerned about HIV\/AIDS. The government is taking measures on this issue but we are afraid that the message is not broadcast as widely as it should be. AIDS is becoming more and more of a danger for young people. <\/p>\n

However, the biggest effort is oriented towards child protection. The positive results of several social services models – addressing different categories of children – convinced authorities to go to national scale. UNICEF also contributed to strengthening the capacities of child protection professionals and supports national efforts to address social protection system gaps with an emphasis on prevention. To give you an example, 40% of children in preventive detention now have access to legal defense, in comparison to 15% in 2003-2004. Changes in systems, such as the juvenile justice system, are among the most difficult things to do in any country. The fact that Moldova has managed to do so much in two or three years is remarkable. I actually think that very soon Moldova could become an example in the region of how to do juvenile justice. And again, this is the merit of the government. It responds to our proposals, and sometimes goes even faster than expected. I think that this is the ideal model of cooperation. <\/p>\n

Infotag: How do you assess the Moldovan legislation on children? <\/p>\n

R.T.: I can say that Moldovan legislation is improving and it is improving very fast. I have already mentioned the great improvements in juvenile justice, child protection, adoption, violence against children and women etc. <\/p>\n

Infotag: What is the budget of UNICEF-Moldova? <\/p>\n

R.T.: In 1995 the budget of UNICEF-Moldova was 100,000 dollars, in 1996 it doubled. The budget for 2000 was already 1.8 million dollars, in 2005 it was 3.3 million dollars and in 2006, 6.5 million dollars. In the 11 years since UNICEF established its presence in Moldova in 1995, its cumulative budget has been 22 million dollars. Most funds are used to implement child protection programmes. <\/p>\n

Infotag: Do you think that UNICEF, with the current coverage of its programmes, would need more money? <\/p>\n

R.T. No. I think that for current coverage of the programmes and the objectives that we have set we have the money required to carry out those programmes. But given the problems children have in Moldova – my answer is yes, a very loud yes, we could use more money. I think that there should be a substantial increase. Very sincerely, this might not have been the answer that I would have given you six months ago when I had just arrived into Moldova. Then my impression was: why do we need so much money in Moldova when we have countries like Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, or northern regions of India? Why does UNICEF have to invest million of dollars in a country which is poor, yes, but growing economically and showing all the good signs of growth, and has committed leadership, a government that is interested in children. I think that today I understand that we may need to increase our support in order to leave faster. Greater support would help the government strengthen its services and its capacities to handle child issues in order for UNICEF to be able to leave Moldova happy. <\/p>\n

Infotag’s note: UNICEF was established in December 1946. At present, it works in 157 countries and has an annual budget of 2 billion dollars. 40% of its budget is used in emergencies, but in Moldova 100% is on development as there are no emergencies here. <\/p>\n

Before taking over the post of UNICEF representative to Moldova, in August 2005, Mr. Ray V. Torres worked for UNICEF in Honduras, Rwanda, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Switzerland, USA and India. \/\/ Infotag<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>(INFOTAG Interview with UNICEF Representative to Moldova, Ray V. Torres)<\/p>\n

Infotag: What are the biggest problems faced by children in Moldova today?<\/p>\n

Ray Torres.: The first problem is poverty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-237779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy"],"content_social_share":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

(INFOTAG Interview with UNICEF Representative to Moldova, Ray V. Torres) <\/p>\n

Infotag: What are the biggest problems faced by children in Moldova today? <\/p>\n

Ray Torres.: The first problem is poverty and what poverty creates. Poverty leads to abandonment, neglect, malnourishment, and abuse. <\/p>\n

The second problem is the number of parents who have gone abroad. 25% of the economically active population of Moldova is living abroad. The remittances they send home account for 27% of Moldova’s GDP. This money is good for the country. At the same time, according to UNICEF studies, more money does not necessarily result in better living conditions for children. Why? Because kids do not live on money. They live on care, love, affection, education and health, they need a family. <\/p>\n

At present, one third of children in Moldova are living with only one parent or without both parents. Mostly this is because their parents are abroad. This number is huge and the authorities should be concerned about the situation, development, psychological and emotional status of these children. <\/p>\n

Infotag: What programmes is UNICEF currently implementing in Moldova? How do you assess its activities? <\/p>\n

R.T.: Since UNICEF started in Moldova in 1995, we have invested very heavily in mother and child health issues. The progress made by Moldova in health has been simply astounding. Infant mortality and maternal mortality rates have dropped dramatically. Immunization coverage, vaccination against major diseases, is practically 98%. This is mainly the result of government activities. I insist on the government role because what you usually hear is that “the government is not doing this, government is not doing that…” That success is the government’s effort, Moldova’s effort. The credit for the results must go to Moldova. UNICEF supports the country by bringing new technologies, providing training, and bringing equipment. But the day to day work is done by a whole army of doctors and nurses. I think that maybe UNICEF support is becoming less and less vital in that area and we are very glad. <\/p>\n

We are also very concerned about HIV\/AIDS. The government is taking measures on this issue but we are afraid that the message is not broadcast as widely as it should be. AIDS is becoming more and more of a danger for young people. <\/p>\n

However, the biggest effort is oriented towards child protection. The positive results of several social services models – addressing different categories of children – convinced authorities to go to national scale. UNICEF also contributed to strengthening the capacities of child protection professionals and supports national efforts to address social protection system gaps with an emphasis on prevention. To give you an example, 40% of children in preventive detention now have access to legal defense, in comparison to 15% in 2003-2004. Changes in systems, such as the juvenile justice system, are among the most difficult things to do in any country. The fact that Moldova has managed to do so much in two or three years is remarkable. I actually think that very soon Moldova could become an example in the region of how to do juvenile justice. And again, this is the merit of the government. It responds to our proposals, and sometimes goes even faster than expected. I think that this is the ideal model of cooperation. <\/p>\n

Infotag: How do you assess the Moldovan legislation on children? <\/p>\n

R.T.: I can say that Moldovan legislation is improving and it is improving very fast. I have already mentioned the great improvements in juvenile justice, child protection, adoption, violence against children and women etc. <\/p>\n

Infotag: What is the budget of UNICEF-Moldova? <\/p>\n

R.T.: In 1995 the budget of UNICEF-Moldova was 100,000 dollars, in 1996 it doubled. The budget for 2000 was already 1.8 million dollars, in 2005 it was 3.3 million dollars and in 2006, 6.5 million dollars. In the 11 years since UNICEF established its presence in Moldova in 1995, its cumulative budget has been 22 million dollars. Most funds are used to implement child protection programmes. <\/p>\n

Infotag: Do you think that UNICEF, with the current coverage of its programmes, would need more money? <\/p>\n

R.T. No. I think that for current coverage of the programmes and the objectives that we have set we have the money required to carry out those programmes. But given the problems children have in Moldova – my answer is yes, a very loud yes, we could use more money. I think that there should be a substantial increase. Very sincerely, this might not have been the answer that I would have given you six months ago when I had just arrived into Moldova. Then my impression was: why do we need so much money in Moldova when we have countries like Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, or northern regions of India? Why does UNICEF have to invest million of dollars in a country which is poor, yes, but growing economically and showing all the good signs of growth, and has committed leadership, a government that is interested in children. I think that today I understand that we may need to increase our support in order to leave faster. Greater support would help the government strengthen its services and its capacities to handle child issues in order for UNICEF to be able to leave Moldova happy. <\/p>\n

Infotag’s note: UNICEF was established in December 1946. At present, it works in 157 countries and has an annual budget of 2 billion dollars. 40% of its budget is used in emergencies, but in Moldova 100% is on development as there are no emergencies here. <\/p>\n

Before taking over the post of UNICEF representative to Moldova, in August 2005, Mr. Ray V. Torres worked for UNICEF in Honduras, Rwanda, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Switzerland, USA and India. \/\/ Infotag<\/p>\n

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