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Every five years, the HRC conducts the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights situation in each UN Member State. The Republic of Moldova is currently subject to this process, for the second time.

In March 2016, Promo-LEX Association, in partnership with several national and international organisations, contributed significantly to the Universal Periodic Review of RM and presented 7 reports on the progress made by the Republic of Moldova on the implementation of the recommendations made in first UPR cycle (read here). The reports of RM civil society, as well as other documents needed for the UPR are available on the OHCHR website (read here ). Other networks and civil society organisations also submitted a series of reports.

Following the submission this information, of the report submitted by the RM delegation to the UN and of the questions to the Moldovan authorities, on 4 November 2016, the Delegation of the Republic of Moldova came with a report on the actions taken. The meeting can be watched here.

During the opening statement of the 26th session of Moldova UPR Working Group, the RM Government (see the list of delegates here) expressed its concern about the challenges the human rights defenders face in the Transnistrian region, as a result of the actions taken by the representatives of Tiraspol security structures.

Referring to the persecution of Promo-LEX Association in the Transnistrian region, the member of RM delegation, Mr. Lilian Darii – the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the RM, referred to the necessity of human rights observance in the Transnistrian region, especially in the case of Promo-LEX Association.  At the same time, the Government informed the HRC Working Group about the call of the three UN Special Rapporteurs[1] sent to the Government in December 2015 regarding the stigma and the criminal case initiated against Promo-LEX Association – member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). In this context, the Government claims to have taken a series of actions to protect the rights of Promo-LEX against the abuses of the Transnistrian security structures in order to suspend the criminal prosecution and the harassment of human rights defenders.

At the same time, we appreciate that the RM Government showed the availability to accept the implementation of the recommendations promoted by Promo-LEX Association together with other national and international organisations for Moldova second UPR cycle, namely to include the issue of human rights protection in the current format of negotiations for a better approach of the human rights violations in the Transnistrian region (see here 00:14:00 a.m.).

During the review process at the 26th session, 75 States formulated questions and recommendations for the RM Government, covering a range of problems related to the human rights protection in the Republic of Moldova. More and more States expressed their concerns related to the environment civil society operates, especially the human rights defenders, including from the Transnistrian region of the RM, and formulated recommendations to this end (Poland, Estonia, Belgium, Uruguay).

Uruguay recommended to the RM Government especially – to recognize explicitly the legitimacy of human rights defenders activity, ensure and support their activity in a safe environment, without fear of reprisals, intimidations and violence, and bring to justice those who are responsible for such acts.

The representative from Georgia expressed his concern regarding the human rights protection in the Transnistrian region, stating during the session that this region is a big gap in this regard, see here 1:07:30 a.m., and formulated a recommendation for the RM Government: take the necessary measures to develop a mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region, involving the civil society from both Nistru banks. In order to take the necessary measures to start develop the mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region, involving the civil society from both Nistru banks.

In the context of human rights protection in the Transnistrian region, the Czech representative requested the RM Government to provide information on measures undertaken to document human rights abuses in the region and support victims of these abuses. As a result, he recommended the RM Government to support and provide assistance to the victims of human rights abuses from the Transnistrian region.

We remind that during 4-7 October 2016, the representatives of Promo-LEX Association participated in meetings with the Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office in Geneva of the following countries: Finland, USA, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Georgia, Uruguay, France, Ireland, Germany, Chile and Canada, but also with the Delegation of the European Union to the UN. During the meetings, Promo-LEX presented the main findings from the reports submitted for 2016 Moldova UPR and promoted the recommendations proposed. Click here for additional information on Promo-LEX Association work to promote the recommendations for Moldova second UPR cycle.

The Report of the working Group (draft) see here.

[1]We remind that on 7 December 2015 the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders acted on the complaint of the Promo-LEX Association and submitted together with other Special Rapporteurs [1] calls to: the Government of the Republic of Moldova, UN Resident Coordinator and the representative appointed by the UN Secretary General (Dafina Gercheva), Tiraspol administration (Ignatiev Vitaly).