the agenda of the People's Advocate for Children's Rights from the beginning of the activity mandate (2016). Thus, during 2019, according to the information presented by the General Police Inspectorate, there were registered 893 cases of voluntary departure of children from home or social institutions172, of which according to the information of the Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection are registered as children leading a street life. Observing the large number of children who leave home and risk being left on the street, the Children's Ombudsman referring to the General Comment no. 21 (2017) on street children173, recommends that the State conduct a proper study of the root causes of the phenomenon, develop a comprehensive strategy for the protection of these children in order to prevent and mitigate the phenomenon and provide adequate protection for the recovery and reintegration of these children, including shelter, education and training, appropriate health care and other social services, including programs to combat substance abuse and mental health counseling. The main causes of the departure of children are: poverty, related to alcohol abuse of the parents, lack of supervision and psycho-emotional and physical abuse by the parents. Most beneficiaries fled the country from the age of 8 to 13. All beneficiaries of the Roadside Assistance Service use narcotic and toxic substances. The effects of street life on children are: dropping out of school, addictions, health problems, especially related to mental health and respiratory organs, caused by substance use and juvenile delinquency (theft, violence between children), sexual exploitation, attracting in the drug marketing networks, etc. The Children's Ombudsman notes that, although several measures have been taken since 2016 to eradicate the phenomenon of street children, today we are forced by circumstances to recognize that they did not have the expected effect, they did not achieve their intended purpose. Those conditions establish the inability of the guardianship authorities to ensure the sustainability and consistency of actions in this area. At the same time, it is worth appreciating the effort of the Chisinau Municipal Council for the creation in 2019 of the Roadside Assistance Service, with a day program, where children are fed, there are conditions for maintaining personal hygiene, recreation through sports, reading and other occupations. However, the need to extend the Service's program is obvious and at night, its operation must be ensured 24/7. 172 http://politia.md/sites/default/files/ni_ssc_12_luni_anul_2019_finala.pdf https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/TBSearch.aspx?Lang=en&TreatyID=5&DocTypeID=11 173 101