The Parliamentary advocate Tudor Lazăr made a working meeting with ANTTI KORKEAKIVI, Chief of Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,(OHCHR), visiting Chişinău at the invitation of UNDP Moldova. At the meeting was also present the Adviser for Human Rights, of Moldova UN Office, Claude Cahn.
Discussions were focused on issues of ethnic minorities rights respect in Moldova, national framework, existing problems in the field, cases that are in CHRM attention and the ways of solving them.
Mr Tudor Lazăr made a general presentation of National Human Rights Institution atributions and activities provided by CHRM, noting the reforming process and capacity building of the institution, adoption of a new law of Parliamentary Advocate.
The Ombudsman noted that in our country there is a legal framework that meets international standards on the rights of ethnic minorities. Recently, last year was adopted the Law on ensuring equality, which also contains provisions to ensure that the rights of ethnic minorities. Tudor Lazărnoted that the constitutional norm confirms the exclusion of any kind of discrimination, including on grounds of ethnicity, Moldova being part of the Framework Convention on the protection of minority rights.
According to Parliamentary advocate, there are still some issues related to the perception of ethnic minorities in society. Although individual cases, such discriminatory events were recorded, targeting in particular Roma citizens. The parliamentary advocate provided details of the complaints on this subject examined last year by CHRM, emphasizing that although not sued for reinstatement of subjects, cases were resolved by pretrial, by noticing responsible public or local authorities.
At the request of OHCHR official, Tudor Lazar reviewed the CHRM actions undertaken to promote national minority rights, giving details of recent events organized by CHRM staff in Comrat. The Parliamentary Advocate noted that these activities were entitled as "Participarea societății civile la procesul de luare a deciziilor. Rolul autorităților locale în integrarea socială a comunității rome din Găgăuzia" and „Particularităţile incluziuni reprezentanţilor unor diverse etnii în Republica Moldova”.
The parliamentary advocate noted the importance of discussions in terms of social integration of Roma minority in our country, insurance of their access to health care and education, issues of their employment in the labor market. Tudor Lazăr noted the participation in the events organized by CHRM of representatives of local authorities, who have expressed their interest and willingness to provide all support to solve the problems faced by Roma citizens. The parliamentary advocate also stressed that the discussions were focused on issues of Gagauz national minority training in native language.
In the context of Roma minority rights respect Tudor Lazăr appreciated the recent approval of communitarian mediators law. The ombudsman mentioned that the CHRM set contact with 15 community mediators that already activates expressing the hope that in a short time will be another 33 community mediators appointed as provided in above mentioned Law
The parliamentary advocate highlighted the good cooperation achieved in the field of national minorities rights respect, particularly in discrimination combat, in common with the Adviser for Human Rights, of UNDP Moldova, Claude Cahn, Tudor Lazăr mentionedthat in the near future are planned some joint actions on monitoring of situation in some regions where are domiciled Roma representatives as well as related to the implementation of the Law on Community mediators.
OHCHR official appreciated the organization or a very active involvement of CHRM in various activities related to the protection of national minority rights, and the adecvate reaction of Parliamentary Advocates in cases of discrimination based on ethnicity creteria. Antti Korkeakivi pointed the very important role of national institution for protection of human rights in monitoring of the situation in this field bz applying appropriate mechanisms to protect the rights of national minorities. European official encouraged the Parliamentary Advocate to continue fulfilling its duties for protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
