The Ombudsman, Mihail Cotorobai: the legislative initiative to repeal the Law on ensuring equality No. 121 of May 25th, 2012, constitutes a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms of people and a decline from the already achieved level in ensuring equality in Moldova.

On April 27th, a group of Parliament members submitted the draft law initiative to repeal the Law on ensuring equality No. 121 of May 25th, 2012.

MihailCotorobai, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Moldova, expresses his deep concern vis-a-vis this legislative initiative which, according to the ombudsman constitutes a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms of man and a decline from the already achieved level in ensuring equality.

Thus, Moldova has taken steps to give full effect to the right to equality in all state activities. In particular, appropriate measures have been taken in terms of constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the right to equality; further effort is made to change the laws, regulations, customs and practices that are in conflict or inconsistent with the right to equality; it is promoted the equality in policy making and relevant programs; measures are taken in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination by any person or any public or private sector organizations.

The universality, recognition and defense of human rights requires necessarily an equal application on all individuals. This means that fundamental rights and freedoms are recognized to all persons, without distinction, whatever its source, i.e. without any discrimination. The right to equality is recognized as a right of all human beings to be treated with respect and consideration and to participate on an equal basis with others in every aspect of economic, social, political, cultural or civil life. The right to equality applies in all areas of activity regulated by law and is intrinsic to all human beings and can be claimed by any person or group of persons who have a common interest in asserting this right.

In this context, the Ombudsman points out that the stated legislative initiative contravenes the general course of Moldova to ensure respect for human rights as one of the basic components of the European course of our country, its adoption will be causing major difficulties in the cooperation with international bodies involved in human rights defense and promotion.