Definition of Youth

The National Youth Law states that youth are “young people, citizens of the Republic of Moldova, aged 16 to 30”. A 2011 review of youth policy states that the official statistics of the Republic of Moldova define youth as aged 15-29.

MDA

Marriageable Age

  • Opposite Sex
  • Same Sex
  • Without parental consent
  • with parental consent
  • Male
  • 18
  • --
  • --
  • Female
  • 18
  • --
  • --



    • No data for marriage with parental consent. No specific legislation on same-sex marriage. Homosexual acts legal. Source: UNSD, ILGA

Candidacy Age

Criminal Responsibility

14
Minimum Age
Between the ages of 14-16 children are criminally liable only in cases of murder and other serious offences Source:  The Criminal Code of Moldova
(2009)

Majority Age

18

Source: FOSIGRID

Voting Age

18


Source:  Inter-Parliamentary Union

Situation of Young People

Youth Development Index

0.73
36 out of 170 countries.

Literacy Rates

100.00%
Both sexes (15-24) %
  • 100.00% Male (15-24) %
  • 100.00% Female (15-24) %

Net Enrolment Rate

Secondary School
77.91%
Both sexes %
  • 77.50%Male %
  • 78.33% Female %

Situation of Young People

Prevalence of HIV

0.5%
Male (15-24) %
0.4%
Female (15-24) %

Tobacco Use

Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.
13.40%
Both sexes (13-15) %
  • 20.80% Male (13-15) %
  • 7.10% Female (13-15) %
  • Year: 2010
  • Source: WHO

Policy & Legislation

Is there a national youth policy?
Yes
Moldova has a youth law, a youth strategy and an action plan. A 2009 review and 2011 review exist.

According to the 2011 review, the aim of Moldova’s youth policy efforts is to ensure the social, economic, political and juridical social guarantees for the development of a developed personality. The main objectives in this area are to: improve (self-) employment; increase access to education, health & personal development services; develop institutional capacity for work with youth; stimulate involvement of youth in decision-making by creating local youth councils & other forms of participation; facilitate access to information, services & leisure.   The Youth Strategy 2009-2013 established the following priorities: access to information & services; participation in public life & active citizenship; employment; institutional capacity development.

Public Institutions

Is there a governmental authority
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Yes
There is a Ministry for Youth and Sport. The 2011 review states that it is responsible for:
  • Legal framework for youth;
  • National and international programs;
  • Monitoring sectoral developments;
  • Assessing youth programs;
  • Running youth projects;
  • Supporting youth NGOs incl. grants;
  • Monitoring use of state funds for youth;
  • Coordination with youth organizations;
  • Counseling young people.
The 2011 review states that local departments for education, youth & sports implement youth policy locally with NGOs and youth councils.

Youth and Representation

Does the country have a national youth organisation / association (council, platform, body)?
Yes
The National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) currently lists 37 member organizations. According to the presentation on its website, its three main roles are to act as: a forum for the representation of youth civil society; a space for dialogue and cooperation among youth organizations and; an intermediary between national and international organizations/institutions that are comprised of young people or that work with young people.

Budget & Spending

What is the budget allocated to the governmental authority (ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth and/or youth programming?
MDL 1.8 million
USD 131,300
The 2011 review states that the 2010 state budget for youth was MDL 1.8 million (USD 131,300). However, resources available to youth are much higher as many youth activities undertaken by the Ministry for Youth and Sport are supported by external donors that finance special youth programs. Municipalities and local public administrations have their own resources for youth activities at the local level. According to the World Bank, Moldova spent 20,82% of its government expenditure and 8,39%of its GDP on education provision in 2012.
Total Expenditure on Education as a Percentage of Government Spending and GDP

  • % of GDP
  • % of gov. expenditure

Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).

Additional Background

According to the 2011 review:
In recent years youth work [has] focused on increasing youth participation, youth autonomy, promotion and improving non-formal education, building new skills and competences via trainings […] Basic principles for youth policy and work in Moldova:
  • Respect and promotion of human rights
  • Participation of young people in development, promotion and implementation of policies and programs oriented towards the development of all aspects of young people’s life
  • Free access of each young person to information and social services
  • Creation of adequate conditions for harmonious development and full affirmation of youngsters. [...]
The Government of Republic of Moldova is fully engaged with European youth agenda and is implementing different programs and working plans to those similar already adopted by its European neighbors in the field of youth policy. [...] The international expertise provided by donors has largely contributed to the setting up of normative framework in youth field. Setting up and approval of Youth National Strategy and National Action Plan was carried out with the technical support of UNICEF and World Bank [...].