specific needs of children and elderly left behind as a ... - IOM Moldova

CHAPTER II
category that is slowly growing and can not be avoided by social policies
anymore. By taking concrete measures we will guarantee the welfare of
these children and their social integration; only in this way social policy
can prove its effectiveness.
The elderly
• Policy objectives
The main existing guidelines within social policies targeting the elderly are
reflected in legislation in force of the Republic of Moldova, in the National
Development Strategy for 2008-2011 (Law no. 295 of 21.12.2007,
published in Official Monitor no. 18-20 of 29.01.2008), as well as in the National
Plan for creation of integrated social services system for 2008-2012
(Government’s Decision no.1512 of 31.12.2008, published in the Official
Monitor no.7-9 of 20.01.2009).
National Development Strategy foresees:
- Giving new social and economic opportunities to vulnerable populations
including the improvement of efficiency and stability of resources
allocated to social assistance;
- Improving social assistance policies and especially the system of pensions.
In other words, the social protection of the elderly refers to the rights to
health care, social and medical security and the right to benefit from
social services.
The National Programme regarding the creation of an integrated social
services system for 2008-2012, has set the objective to develop some quality
and effective services for people in difficulty and consequently for the
elderly. This programme has 2 targets: (1) to ensure the quality of social
services, which should be possible through the management system of integrated
social services (institutions, human resources, financial resources
and the methodology for working with certain categories of beneficiaries);
(2) to develop and consolidate the system of social services that implies
the enlargement of community services, which at present do not meet
the needs of people in difficulty living in the country and therefore to improve
residential services.
Social protection policies implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection
and Family do not refer to the elderly left behind by migrants as a
separate group. In this regard the representatives of these institutions underline
the fact that “the phenomenon of the elderly left behind as a consequence of
migration is a relevant one especially now when our country faces an ageing population,
a poor social situation and also a mass migration of youth” (IIA_EE_8).
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