The Republic of Moldova is making progress in respecting human rights, say experts
The Republic of Moldova is among the countries that advance in respect of human rights, experts claim. An important role in this regard is played by the People's Advocate, the key institution, whose importance is felt, especially in crisis situations, said the participants of the international conference "Protection and promotion of fundamental human rights amid new challenges and realities" existing in modern societies".
The Republic of Moldova, starting in 2020, faces multiple challenges, these being caused by the war in Ukraine but also by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the Ombudsman's office is also in charge of respecting the rights of refugees from the neighboring country, declared the People's Advocate, Ceslav Panico. "Disinformation, propaganda, armed conflicts, social tensions, rapid technological evolution, the involvement of business in respecting human rights are just a few aspects that require an efficient and quick intervention. The role of the mechanisms of national institutions, especially of ombudsmen, is to prevent such cases. We need to prevent human rights violations to avoid loss of human rights", said Ceslav Panico.
For his part, the vice-president of the Parliament, Mihai Popșoi, said that the office of the People's Advocate asserted itself in promoting respect for human rights throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region, where such violations are systematic.
"The institution of the People's Advocate is the fundamental institution for the protection of citizens' rights. The gratitude towards the ombudsman also extends in the context of the sustained efforts made by the ombudsman's team in promoting human rights throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, where human rights violations have a systemic nature", said Mihai Pops.
The protection of human rights is one of the recommendations of the European Commission that the Republic of Moldova has fulfilled in order to obtain the status of a candidate country for accession to the community space, said the Ambassador of the European Union in Chisinau, Janis Mazeiks. At the same time, the official stated that the ombudsman institution must continue to intervene in crisis situations and assert itself as the main promoter of human rights.
"Human protection was one of the three areas that were considered accomplished. This means that what has been done so far is good and it is important to stay on the same path in the future. With Russia's war against Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova faced new challenges, including the influx of several hundreds of thousands of refugees into the country in the intensification of cyber attacks, disinformation and destabilization", concluded Janis Mazeiks. The International Conference "Protection and promotion of fundamental human rights in the context of new challenges and realities in modern societies" was organized on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Office of the People's Advocate in the Republic of Moldova. Experts and ombudsmen from 15 countries participated in the event.
