Republic of Moldova

Description:

The project aims to contribute to progressive prevention of the prevalence/incidence of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by strengthening the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in compliance with the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) / Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) requirements and under overall national human rights protection and promotion system. It will also help create and foster partnerships between NPM and specialized NGOs and public authorities, as well as among them, to ensure the effective response to the cases of torture.

Objectives:

• Strengthen the NPM for the monitoring and prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at the national level in compliance with the OPCAT provisions;
• Develop the institutional capacity of the Ombudsperson Institution/Centre for Human Rights in exercising its functions, including support the improvement and implementation of relevant legislative framework to in the human rights area.

Benefits expected:

• A functioning and improved NPM for monitoring and prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment at the national level put in place;
• A national action plan on prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in place;
• At least 150 monitoring visits carried out in about 150 objects with high risk or potential risk of prevalence/incidence of torture;
• Knowledge and skills of 11 NPM members, 22 representatives of the 4 mobile groups created, 540 representatives of police, penitentiary, psychiatric hospitals judiciary, NGOs, mass-media in addressing and preventing of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment enhanced;
• Increased awareness of the decision-makers and public at large about torture, human rights mechanisms for their protection;
li>Institutional capacity of the Ombudsperson institution and its 27 staff to perform core functions (including handle complaints, human rights monitoring, propose legislative and policy changes and information, human rights communication, information and education).

Public
awareness:

The development of a communication strategy for the Ombudsperson Institution will help increase its profile and build better partnerships with other partners in the field, thus having a greater impact on the implementation of the human rights promotion and protection actions and promotion of behaviour change in the spirit of human rights. Other communications activities include the redesign and update of the Ombudsperson institution’s website (www.ombudsman.md), as well as maintenance of the National Human Rights Portal (www.drepturileomului.md).

Partners:

Centre for Human Rights, Department for Penitentiary Institutions, representatives of NPM, mobile groups, police, penitentiary, judiciary, psychiatric hospitals, mass-media.

Noteworthy:

The project will strive to achieve a long term impact of increased awareness on torture-related issues, behavioural change among the law enforcement representatives, reduced incidents of torture cases, thus ensuring a better protection of the citizen’s rights.