By EU support in Chisinau, Tiraspol, Comrat start activity three Centres for Legal, Psychological, Rehabilitation of victims of torture

Chisinau, 03 August /MOLDPRES/ – The torture and ill-treatment are still present in Moldova. This is evidenced by data of the General Prosecutor's Office (PG) of Moldova, which states that many times applicants have complained upon methods of violence against them, which happened by beatings, cruel treatment with use of objects and various forms of psychological influence threat, pressure and intimidation. Most often, maltreatment against potential victims took place in public places, police inspectorates, educational institutions, penitentiary institutions, and their place of residence.

In the framework of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in Moldova, the Institute for Democracy (Comrat), in partnership with the National Institute of Women of Moldova (Chisinau) and the Transnistrian Media Centre (Transnistrian region) with by EU support, it was launched project: "Toti impreuna vom spune NU torturii in Moldova: societatea civila impotriva torturii" (All together we shall say NO to torture in Moldova: civil society against torture).

Ambassador of the European Union to Moldova Peter Michalko has said he is very pleased to announce the launch of project "All together we shall say NO to torture in Moldova: civil society against torture" implemented by the Institute for Democracy in partnership with Transnistrian Media Centre and National Institute of Women from Moldova.

The EU Ambassador stressed that human rights and democracy are fundamental values ​​that EU supports all over the world, these values ​​underpin the relations and the Association Agreement between Moldova and EU. One of EU commitments is to provide assistance and support for democratic development of Moldova.

Peter Michalko said that the launch of this project reaffirms EU continued support for Moldova, which would be reflected in a short time in other dedicated projects too, in particular, as to strengthen local communities by ensuring close cooperation between government agencies and citizens. The citizen of Moldova, no matter where he lives – in Chisinau, Comrat or Tiraspol, must be sure that he will remain the centre of EU attention and support, assured the Head of EU Delegation to Moldova, Peter Michalko.

The project aim is to contribute to the prevention and combating of torture in Moldova, including in Transnistria.

The project envisages the creation of three primary legal and psychological assistance centres for torture victims.

The legal/psychological assistance within Centres is for free, including primary legal and psychological support. The beneficiaries of centres will be those ones which have been subjected to torture, physical and psychological abuse, potential victims and/or their relatives. The psychological assistance includes primary victim counseling, family counseling, individual or group psychotherapy programmes with art therapy elements. The involvement of specialist in psychological rehabilitation of victim of torture will contribute to reintegration into society. The project also involves conducting seminars for prison staff, police and psychiatric hospitals in Moldova to raise awareness of responsibility for zero tolerance of torture. Also, there will be organised initiation seminars for inmates, patients in hospitals and other persons at risk. The project activities will be broadly reflected in mass media sources (TV and radio programmes, mass media articles in Moldova, etc.).

The project provides for establishment of a permanent network of non-governmental organisations to combat torture (at least 15-20 NGOs in Gagauzia, Chisinau and the Transnistrian region). The network aims to exchange experiences between NGOs, increase knowledge about methods of combating torture, and put pressure on state power to influence it in order to step up efforts to combat torture. After an intensive training programme, the network members will be able to share their experiences in preventing torture and provide informational support to other regional NGOs.

Within project, there will be organised youth activities such as interactive workshops for law students of universities in Moldova (future police officers, judges and prosecutors) as to increase the level of intolerance to torture.

Under project, the Institute for Democracy will implement a sub-grant programme in amount of €5000 – €7000 for NGOs. The sub-grant programme aims to support the work of civil society organisations to combat torture.

The total budget of the project is €733,940, of which 95 per cent is EU contribution (€697,2 43). The project duration is 3 years.

Additional info: This project is implemented by EU financial support. The project coordinator is the Institute for Democracy – a public organisation officially registered at the Ministry of Justice (MJ) of Moldova in January 2007.

In 2016, for excellent achievements in the field of human rights, the Institute for Democracy won the prize of the Western Association of UNESCO Clubs on the occasion of the International Day of Human Rights. For outstanding achievements in the field of human rights activities in 2016, the international scientific journal "Suprematia Dreptului" (The supremacy of law) recognised the Institute for Democracy as organisation of the year.

The contact addresses: Chisinau – str. Bucuresti 71 (tel. 067203040); Comrat – Tretiacova 21/3 (tel. 078899110) and Tiraspol – T. Sevcenko 12/12 (tel. 077973007).