Experts of the working groups for social issues and humanitarian aid held a meeting at the Tiraspol headquarters of the OSCE Mission in the Republic of Moldova
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At Chisinau’s initiative, the activity of the working groups for social issues and humanitarian aid was resumed (the last meeting was held online on November 3, 2021).
The Chisinau delegation was represented by Vasile Cușca, the head of the working group, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, with the participation of officials of the Ministry, the National Office of Social Insurance, the Bureau of Reintegration policies and UNHCR in the Republic of Moldova.
Chisinau proposed for discussion a wide array of topics aimed at managing the refugee crisis and providing effective support to Ukrainian citizens who have found shelter on both banks of the Nistru River, with the use of active employment services and measures which can benefit the citizens of the Republic of Moldova from both banks of the Nistru River, as well as with the realization of the right to pension and the granting of allowances addressed to families with children.
The experts from Chisinau provided extensive information, with statistical data and infographics regarding the cooperation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection with UNHCR in Moldova in the context of providing the necessary support to refugees, proposing to maintain a closer cooperation between both banks of the Nistru River to deal with all the challenges faced by organizations and volunteers in the noble mission of assistance.
The "UAHELP" Information System (uahelp.md), created by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection with the support of UNHCR in the Republic of Moldova, was presented, with the aim of facilitating the efforts of national authorities in the management of the refugee crisis. Through this platform, refugee families, either on the right bank or on the left, can enter the database and subsequently benefit from material and financial support offered by the state of the Republic of Moldova and its international partners.
The participants at the meeting continued discussions on the cases of children at risk and identified without parental protection, the need to mobilize efforts to ensure the necessary protection measures, ensure their return to their permanent place of residence, (re)integration into the biological family or in the extended family, the establishment of guardianship over minors by the authorities empowered in this regard, placement in temporary placement centers that meet the requirements in force. In this respect, Chisinau reiterated the importance of respecting and following international provisions in the field of the protection of children's rights, as well as the protection of personal data.
It was agreed to maintain an active dialogue on the addressed topics, with the examination of additional initiatives beneficial to the population on both banks of the Nistru River.

