The issue of discrimination combat in Republic of Moldova, evolution of events in this field were discussed on the meeting with the Parliamentary Advocate Tudor Lazăr with Claude Cahn is Human Rights Adviser to the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Moldova.
The officials spoke about the situation of administrative territorial units that during last year have adopted discriminatory decisions against sexual minorities, as well as currently development of a draft law with similar content in TAU Gagauz Yeri. Tudor Lazăr informed the UN official that following the Parliamentarz Advocate intervention the concerned district authorities or localities have reviewed the decision and Balti district Court soon will give a ruling on the issue. The Ombudsman also noted that the draft law prepared by the Legal Committee of ATU Gagauz Yeri, People Assembly, which excludes any protection for sexual minorities in this region exceede allowed constitutional limits.
Tudor Lazăr noted that he submitted a letter to the Governor of ATU Gagauz Yeri, by which recommended to attention the enforced authorities vested with drafting and adopting legislation on the discriminatory nature of proposed Draft Law in order to avoid a possible conviction of the Republic of Moldova to ECHR. a letter with similar content was sent to the President of People's Assembly of TAU Gagauz Yeri, Dmitry Konstantinov, in which he advised to explain to the deputies about the negative impact of this law adoption, including the country conviction to ECHR.
However, Tudor Lazăr revealed that the issue of discrimination against Roma combat was the theme of the roundtable that was organized recently by CHRM in Comrat with representatives of several NGOs and local public authorities. There were discussed issues regarding employment of the Roma population to the labor market, education and training of Roma children into the educational process, crime prevention among Roma, their access to health services. Tudor Lazăr, noted on availability of CHRM to establish a cooperation with community mediators. Parliamentary Advocate stressed that, to the 15 already operating community mediators have been sent a message of encouragement and in perspective, after the appointment of community mediators in other localities populated predominantly by Roma citizens, the ombudsman planning to have a meeting with them.
Tudor Lazăr reiterated that racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance must be opposed firmly, these phenomena have no place in a modern democratic society. The Ombudsman noted that parliamentary advocates institution commemorated the victims of the 1903 pogrom and called society to follow the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect and combat any manifestations of violence, discrimination based on race, color, language, religion, national or ethnic origin
The Parliamentary advocate has made some clarifications regarding his opinion on the issue of sex education in school, in the context of calls on some groups of people, including public offices, to withdraw from school libraries Family Medical Encyclopedia "Sexual Life" from LAROUSSE collection. In Ombudsman opinion is necessary to provide for students age appropriate knowledge regarding sexual education at all levels of education. Sex education activities should be optional, their deployment must take place not only in schools but also in other places where are: training activities, recreation, sport, health of children. All this must be provided by competent specialists.
Claude Cahn reaffirmed the UNDP Moldova support for the actions taken by Republic of Moldova authorities and CHRM on a segment of discrimination combat and promotion of tolerance. The UN Official noted the attention of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova on application of the provisions of the Law on Community mediators
During the meeting, Claude Cahn informed the Parliamentary Advocate about Moldovan part of the Report of the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice presentation, elaborated on the special mandatory visit to Republic of Moldova in May last year.
