Between 14 to 15 June 2016 Mihail Cotorobai - the Ombudsman, and Maia Bănărescu - the Ombudsperson for Children's Rights, with the Office's employees Olga Vacarciuc, Dumitru Roman, Ada Simon, Elena Cernăuţeanu, LiudmilaBodrug and Ina Galan conducted a study visit to the Council of Europe.

The visit was organized by the Directorate for Support to national implementation of Human Rights, the Policy Department in Human Rights and Development, the Directorate of Human Rights, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI) of the Council of Europe under the "Support to criminal justice reform in Moldova", financed by the Government of Denmark.

On 14 June 2016 during an introductory meeting, the delegation met with Tatiana Termacic, the representative of the Directorate to Support national implementation of Human Rights, the Human Rights Directorate, and Corina Călugăru, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Moldova at the Council of Europe.

During the meeting, various aspects of the work of national defense and promotion of human rights in Moldova were discussed, in terms of collaboration with the Council of Europe within current projects in progress and reform, all from the perspective of the ombudsman institution in Moldova.

Tatiana Termacic welcomed the representatives of the OAP and underlined the decisive role of the ombudsman institution in the national implementation of human rights, also Tatiana Termacic talked about the collaboration of the Council of Europe with the Office of the Ombudsman, especially referring to the opinion of the Directorate of Human Rights and Rule of Law on the provisions of the Law on the Ombudsman on the work of the National Preventive Mechanism. In this context, Tatiana Termacic stressed the need to create the NPM in optimum time and support the work of this mechanism. Another area of cooperation is the activity to combat discrimination of any kind.

Corina Călugăru, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the Council of Europe, expressed confidence that talks with representatives of the Council of Europe, are particularly valuable because they provide the Office of the Ombudsman the opportunity to take note of the guidelines, suggestions, and criticisms of an international partner, whose conception, practice and experience are decisive for the whole spectrum of human rights activities. Călugăru Corina stressed the importance of the human factor for the efficient execution of duties of the OAP, saluting the appointment of the ombudsperson for children's rights and collaboration with other international human rights instruments( the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), the Directorate General of Anti-Discrimination Department on Democracy, the European Court of Human Rights. Corina Călugăru also supported the intention of the ombudsman institution to gain accreditation status "A".

The Ombudsman mentioned in his speech the importance of such visits for the Office of the Ombudsman in terms of establishing direct relations of collaboration with the Council of Europe and to study first-hand the standards, methodology and working procedures of the Council of Europe and setting priorities for the work of the Office. The Ombudsman was also referred to the creation of the NPM and the difficulties faced in this proceeding by the ombudsman's office.

In the opening of the second session, Tigran Karapetyan, Head of Unit in the Directorate for nationwide implementation of Human Rights, spoke about the methodology and procedures used on the project of the Eastern Partnership in working with Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia from the utility perspective for the cooperation with Moldova. The methodology includes study visits, seminars, developing informational materials, training and development of relations of cooperation, capacity building and supporting national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights, analysis and development of legislation, training activities.

In the field of cooperation with NHRIs needs assessment is conducted, assistance is granted in various aspects, institutional capacity building, development of regulations in accordance with international standards, methodological assistance in certain directions.

In the process of collaboration with the ombudsman institution from Georgia, for example, it was initiated a memorandum of cooperation between the ombudsman and the Supreme Court. This action had the purpose of assisting the courts to ensure strict adherence to legal procedures in terms of human rights in the judicial process and strengthening the institution amicus curiae, as a mechanism for helping to create a judicial system based on respect for human rights.

The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine was assisted on several areas: capacity building on the NPM, non-discrimination, protection of personal data. Employees of the ombudsman institution in Ukraine have studied the HELP Programme and the protection of personal data.

For the prevention of torture and ill-treatment in Ukraine, the ombudsman institution conducted a study on the assessment of effectiveness in achieving the Ombudsman's recommendations.

The Ombudsman institution in Armenia was assisted in monitoring respect for human rights in the armed forces; in this regard a cooperation agreement was signed with the Ministry of Defense.

The project coordinator BozhenaMalanchuk referred to the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, noting in this regard the position expressed by the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (Directorate of Human Rights) of the Council of Europe (the Position of the Directorate General of Human Rights and the Office of the Ombudsman is presented in the Report on human rights in Moldova in 2015 (pag.7-8) http://www.ombudsman.md/sites/default/files/document/attachments/raport_2015_red.pdf)

Expressing confidence that the new National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture will be created in Moldova soon and referring to support through assistance programs, BozhenaMalanchuk stressed the need to establish efficient collaboration in this process with the General Prosecutor's Office motivated by the fact that the Prosecutor General the opportunity now passes through a crucial reform process. Another aspect that could ensure effective functioning of the NPM would be working for the promotion, oriented to inform civil society about the NPM activity in terms of interest in respect for human rights.

The expert also talked about Ukraine's experience in applying the methodology to monitor human rights in the courts.

In these discussions, the ombudsmen and employees of the OAP analyzed various aspects of the operation of the Office, difficulties in establishing and functioning of the National Preventive Mechanism, spoke about previous experience in the activity of the NPM, the ways of collaboration of the Ombudsman with the civil society and the courts. The exchange of views on these issues is extremely helpful for the work of the Office of the Ombudsman.