Moldova A Moldovan woman forced her children to beg in St. Petersburg

March 28, 2011

Comment: In an article dated, February 17th 2011, the online news portal ‘Unimedia’ reported on the story of a Moldovan woman who went to the Russian Federation with her daughter whom she allegedly forced to beg for money. Following police action, the mother will be deported back to Moldova since the Russian Criminal Code provisions do not apply to forced begging cases.

The article, putting the issue of child exploitation through the text and first and foremost through a picture portraying a young girl in a degrading position – begging in a random street, fails to offer the readers a comprehensive view of the child protection concerns at stake.

The article does not mention what happened to the child and what procedures were followed in her case. Did the child stay in Russia in protective care? Was she deported together with her mother? Were the Moldovan authorities informed of her case?

Reporting on child abuse cases is of importance and contributes to a wider understanding of the child protection concerns that occur in a given country, but this should always be backed up with detailed information to avoid potential counter productive effects.

Comments: Andriana Dilan Communications Officer, Tdh Delegation in Moldova