Moldovan diplomacy head meets UN special rapporteur

Chisinau, 29 June /MOLDPRES/ - The results of a visit to Moldova by the United Nations Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, held this week, have been discussed at a meeting with Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Tudor Ulianovschi, the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service has reported.    

Michel Forst appreciated the commitment and cooperation of the authorities during the visit, which facilitated the assessment of the situation of human rights defenders in Moldova on both banks of Dniester.  

According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur, the legal and institutional framework in which the human rights defenders work in Moldova meet the basic conditions; yet, the authorities are encouraged to continue improving the national mechanism of ensuring the work of defenders. The UN officials referred, in particular, to the work of the Ombudsman, gender equality among defenders, role of non-governmental actors, mass media’s access to information, efficiency and independence of the national institutions in the field of human rights defenders.     

The special UN rapporteur welcomed the Moldovan government’s intention to put up its candidacy as member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2020-2022.  

At the meeting, Minister Ulianovschi confirmed openness for cooperation with UN structures, especially on the dimension of ensuring human rights, which represents one of the priorities of the government’s action programme.  

The UN expert pays his first official visit to Moldova on 25-29 June, in order to assess the situation of human rights defenders in Moldova.