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Promo-LEX Association participates in the works of the 92^nd Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva (24 April – 12 May 2017). During its Session, the Committee reviews the Report of the Republic of Moldova implementing the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

After reviewing the Report and consulting with the civil society actors, the Committee will formulate a series of binding recommendations, to be implemented by the Republic of Moldova.

‘Racial discrimination is still one of the most widespread patterns of discrimination in the Republic of Moldova. It varies from the discrimination at workplace, in education and social services to racial profiling, hate speech and hate crimes. Efforts taken by the authorities over the recent years were not enough to cause a significant improvement in this area’, says Dumitru Sliusarenco, Promo-LEX lawyer.

During the past years, Promo-LEX Association has analysed the situation with the human rights of ethnic groups and national minorities. On 31 March 2017, Promo-LEX in partnership with the Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Promo-LEX drew the attention to certain severe issues in the following areas:

– Social discrimination and intolerance,
– Public hate speech,
– Hate crimes,
– Discrimination of Roma and violation of their labour, education and housing rights.

The most important recommendations for the Government of the Republic of Moldova are the following:
– The Government shall develop and conduct continuous training programs for legal professional and representatives of public authorities on equality and non-discrimination, including application of these provisions to the local budgeting process, development of local policies and representation in local decision-making process.
– Authorities should intensify the efforts to prevent and combat hate speech at all levels. National Audio-Visual Center should elaborate an efficient monitoring mechanism to identify and sanction discrimination in media.
– The General Police Inspectorate and General Prosecutor’s Office should adopt efficient measures to uniform investigative practices, ensuring that hate crimes against ethnic minorities are properly investigated.
– The Government should implement the existing laws and policies; Authorities should monitor the efficiency of these measures.
– The Government should elaborate and adopt a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the 2016-2020 Action Plan on the support of Roma population in Moldova.
– The Government should allocate adequate funding to national policies and action plans aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against ethnic and national minorities ensuring inclusive education and equal opportunities in employment.

The report to be published on the website in the ‘UN Committees’ category is attached​.

DOC – JOINT SUBMISSION OF THE PROMO-LEX ASSOCIATION AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CENTRE MEMORIAL