History

HISTORY

People's Advocate Office is an institution similar to the European and international institutes of Ombudsman that operates under The Law on the People's Advocate (Ombudsman) No. 52 of 04/03/2014.

Previously institution was called the Centre for Human Rights, who worked from 1998 under the Law on Parliamentary Advocates, 1349-XIII from 17 October 1997 as an important non-judicial mechanism for human rights in Moldova. The Center for Human Rights of Moldova was composed of 4 parliamentary advocates with equal rights. One of them was specialized in issues of child rights protection (Children’s Advocate). A number of public servants, provided to parliamentary advocates organizational, information, scientific-analytical, economic-financial assistance. Four Representative in Balti, Cahul and Comrat (the Territorial-Autonomous Unit “Gagauz-Yeri”) and Varniţa, worked as territorial subdivisions of the institution.

Representative offices of the Center for Human Rights of Moldova in Bălţii, Cahul and Comrat were opened in 2001 by the decision of the Republic of Moldova Parliament. In 2012 was opened a new Representative Office in Varniţa, Anenii Noi District.

With the signing and ratification by the Republic of Moldova of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, in force since 24 July 2006, which stipulates the establishment of independent mechanisms for preventing torture at national level, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates was vested with this mission. A Consultative Board was created in order to provide assistance in the fulfillment of duties of parliamentary advocates as a national torture prevention mechanism that refers to performing preventive visits in places where people deprived of freedom are or can be. On 20 March 2008 through amendments to the Law on Parliamentary Advocates at 20.03.2008, was introduced the mandate of Parlamentary Advovate for protection of children rights. On 16-18 November 2009 in Geneva the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has accredited the Center of Human Rights of Moldova with the B status which shows the ability of Parliamentary Advocates institution to accomplish it’s tasks in the area of human rights protection, providing the recognition of the institution on the international level.

People's Advocate Office is a member of: INTERNATIONAL OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTE, INSTITUTE OF EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN, THE ASSOCIATION OF OMBUDSMEN AND MEDIATORS OF LA FRANCOPHONIE. Created as an independent public authority to guarantee the enforcement of fundamental human rights and freedoms by central and local public authorities, institutions, organizations and enterprises, irrespective of their form of property, the community-based associations and people with positions of influence at all levels, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates is the authority that favors the balance between public authorities and the society, contributes to the protection of human rights by preventing the violation of these and restoring the rights, to the improvement of the legislation in the field and to the legal education of the population, applying the methods set out in the current legislation.

Old logo of the Centre for Human Rights was created in 1998 by George Munteanu, master of arts. The logo represents the right hand, signifying consciousness. Open book inside the palm represents indispensable instrument of any defender of rights - the Supreme Law. The balance inside the book personifies Ombudsman's duties as mediator between citizens and public authorities. Similarly, it aims to "weigh" independent and impartial each party's interests. The blue color is a symbol of warriors, people who tend toward perfection, tranquility, peace and freedom.

	ALEXEI POTINGA, Parliamentary Advocate, Director of the Center of Human Rights from Moldova (1998-2003); Studies: Higher studies in law, Doctor in law; Work activity: Legal consultant of the district Criuleni Council of the Kolkhozes Heads; Legal consultant of the Republican Council of the Kolkhozes; during 1983-1998 – prosecutor, Head of the Division of contribute to justice execution in civil cases of the Republic of Moldova General Prosecutor’s Office, State legal counselor of rank III.
	MIHAIL SIDOROV,Parliamentary Advocate (1998-2001) Studies: Higher studies in law Work activity: judge, chairman of a district court, member of the MSSR Supreme Court, Deputy Head of the Secretariat Service of the Supreme Soviet of Republic of Moldova, first deputy minister of Justice during 1994-1998 - member of Republic of Moldova Parliament, Vice-Chairman of Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights, cults, national minorities.
	CONSTANTIN LAZARI, Parliamentary Advocate (1998-2002) Studies: Higher studies in law; Doctor in international public law; Work activity:during 1997-1998 consultant in Supreme Security Council, President’s Office of the Republic of Moldova. During 2003-2008 next Parliamentary advocates were on duty.
	RAISA APOLSCHII, Parliamentary Advocate, Director of the Center of Human Rights from Moldova (2003-2008) Studies: Higher studies in law; Work activity: Judge, Court of Ciocana sector, mun. Chişinău (1989-1994); lawyer in lawyers Bar in Republic of Moldova (1994-2003). At the moment member of the Parliament of Republic of Moldova
	ALINA IANUCENCO, Parliamentary Advocate (2001-2004) Studies: Higher studies in law; Work activity: legal executor, Octombrie rigion court, Chişinău; Judge, Lenin rigion court, Chişinau; judge, Supreme Court of the Republic of Moldova; asistent-judge, Supreme Court of the Republic of Moldova. Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova. Decorated with the "Gloria Muncii" award. Alina Ianucenco the first woman ombudsman in the Republic.
	IURII PEREVOZNIC,Parliamentary Advocate(2003-2008) Studies: Higher studies in law; Work activity: senior assistant to the prosecutor, Prosecutor’s Office of Rîscani sector, mun. Chişinau (1993-2000); Deputy Head of Section, General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova (2000-2003).Now activates in the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova.
	IVAN CUCU, Parliamentary advocate (2005 - 2008) Studies: Higher studies in law; Work activity: activity in law for over 30 years;trainee lawyer (1970-1971); attorney to legal consultancy office, Chişinău (1972, 1974); member of the Council of Lawyers Union in the Republic of Moldova (1976-1987, 1998-2002);lecturer, Moldova State University (1980-1985);member of the Central Election Commission (2003); during 2003-2005 he held the position of a permanent member of the Central Election Commission, including Vice-President of the Central Election Commission.
	OLEG EFRIM, Parliamentary Advocate ( 2008-2009) Studies: Higher studies in law;candidate to a doctor degree Profesional experience: National Asistance and information center for NGO’s from Moldova "CONTACT", Legal Adviser, Program Coordinator, Expert in developing of the study NGOs from Moldova, Lawyer-partner , in "Avornic&Partenerii" lawyer office, director of non-comercial law Center, Moldova State University, Faculty of Law Senior University Lecturer, Legal adviser in UNDP project "Center for projects and programs implementation", now Minister of Justice.
On 30 October 2008 the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova under Article 4, Article 5, paragraph (1) and (2), art. 6 paragraph. (1) and Art. 9 para. (1). leters d) and e) from the Law Nr..1349-XIII of 17 October 1997 on Parliamentary Advocates adopted Decision Nr.222-XVI by which were appointed as Parliamentary advocates for a term of five years: Anatolie Munteanu, Grigoriu Aurelia; Plămădeală Tamara. By Parliament Decision Nr. 134 from 01.07.2010 in the function of the Parliamentary advocate was appointed Mr. Lazar Tudor for a term of 5 years.

	ANATOLIE MUNTEANU Parliamentary advocate, on the basis of the Republic of Moldova’s Parliament Decision Nr. 222 - XVI from 30.10.2008 on appointment as Parliamentary advocate, Director of the Center for Human Rights of Moldova. Studies:Higher studies in law, Master of Law Professional activity: Prosecutor’s Attorney of Floreşti Region, Chişinău district Prosecutor’s senior assistant, Prosecutor, head of criminal –justice division of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Interim Head of Legal Division in the General Prosecutor’s Office
	AURELIA GRIGORIU Parliamentary advocate, on the basis of the Republic of Moldova’s Parliament Decision Nr. 222 - XVI from 30.10.2008 on appointment as Parliamentary advocate. Studies: Higher studies in law, Master of Law, Master of Public Administration, aspirant Professional activity: specialist in the field of human resources on rail transport, Adviser, Executive Committee of sector Centru, Chişinău, director of legal company “Vistarn”, Lawyers Collegium of the Republic of Moldova, licensed lawyer, individual lawyer Office Aurelia Grigoriu.
	TAMARA PLĂMĂDEALĂ Parliamentary advocate, on the basis of the Republic of Moldova’s Parliament Decision Nr. 222 - XVI from 30.10.2008 on appointment as Parliamentary advocate. Studies: Higher studies in law; Professional activity: teacher of history and law at the Technical Professional School Nr. 2 Camenca region, village Cuhureştii de Sus, Chairperson of the peasant cartel , “St. George'' , Şoldăneşti region branch, legal consultant in the Project “National Program Land”(Programul Naţional Pămînt), legal consultant of Private Farmers Assistance Program (PFAP), Specialist in marketing area, project Orhei CFR, legal consultant, OO Agrodrept-Moldova, counselor, Orhei District Council.