Journalists Matter, Council of Europe Campaign for the Safety of Journalists
The Council of Europe encourages member states to transpose the Campaign to the national context. Without each member’s committed and effective effort at national level, through the development of the so-called ‘national chapter’, the Campaign cannot reach its goals.
In this section, we will present developments in Republic of Moldova:
National Focal Point
Mr Anton IALĂU, Head of the Directorate for media policy, within the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova
National Campaign Committee
The National Campaign Committee for the Journalists Matter Campaign in the Republic of Moldova will operate through the Ministry of Culture’s consultative platform for mass media, which has been designated to coordinate and monitor the campaign’s implementation at the national level.
Composition and Stakeholders:
The Platform brings together representatives from key government institutions, regulatory bodies, and civil society organizations, ensuring a multi-stakeholder and inclusive approach. Members include:
Ministry of Culture (lead institution)
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Internal Affairs
General Inspectorate of Police
Audiovisual Council
Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation
Press Council (media self-regulatory body)
Representatives of the most prominent media civil society organizations (CSOs)
Functioning and Meetings:
The Platform’s first meeting is scheduled for February–March 2025. The working group is expected to meet regularly thereafter, depending on the agenda and progress of the Journalists Matter Campaign activities.
Given the committee’s composition — combining both government and media sector representatives — the mechanism is expected to facilitate constructive dialogue, coordination, and cooperation among relevant stakeholders, contributing to the creation of a sustainable framework for journalist safety and media freedom in Moldova.
In the framework of the Journalists Matter Campaign, the Republic of Moldova has put in place an interinstitutional coordination mechanism to address the safety of journalists.
As foreseen in the Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists for 2026–2027, a group of focal points bringing together relevant public authorities (including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General’s Office), in cooperation with civil society partners such as the Press Council, is being established.
This group is designed to function as a coordination and early warning mechanism, facilitating the exchange of information, the prompt handling of cases involving threats or attacks against journalists, and strengthened cooperation between institutions and stakeholders.
The mechanism contributes to improving the coherence and effectiveness of national responses to risks faced by journalists and is expected to play a central role in the implementation and monitoring of the Action Plan.
2025 update
In 2025, preparations continued for the adoption of Moldova’s National Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists for 2026–2027. The draft plan was coordinated with the Ministry of Justice, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Institute of Justice, the Agency for Cybersecurity and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with adoption expected in early 2026.
The safety of journalists was also discussed during the 10th edition of the Media Forum, where journalists, civil society representatives and public authorities examined challenges relating to online and offline attacks against journalists, available reporting mechanisms and institutional responses. During the event, the first draft of the National Action Plan was presented and discussed with stakeholders.
In parallel, the Ministry of Justice initiated the preparation of draft legislation on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), marking an important step towards the implementation of Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2.
The Media Subsidy Fund also launched its first two funding competitions aimed at strengthening the economic sustainability of independent media. Twenty-two media projects received support through the programme. As a result, 22 media projects received support, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of Moldova’s media sector. The initiative represents an important step in addressing economic pressures affecting media organisations and supporting conditions for independent and quality journalism.
The Republic of Moldova has made notable progress in strengthening media freedom and the safety of journalists in recent years. According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Moldova has risen to 31st place globally and is the only country in Eastern Europe classified as having a “satisfactory” level of press freedom, reflecting a positive trajectory and continued alignment with European standards.
This progress is supported by ongoing legal and policy reforms, improved access to information frameworks, and increased attention by public authorities to the protection of journalists.
At the same time, challenges persist. While most incidents are non-physical, journalists continue to face online harassment, intimidation and economic pressures, particularly when reporting on sensitive topics.
Overall, Moldova’s media environment is advancing in a positive direction, combining tangible progress with a clear commitment to further strengthening the safety of journalists and media freedom.
As mentioned at the annual meeting of the Journalists Matter Campaign, hosted in Chișinău on 23 April 2026, the Republic of Moldova has formally adopted its Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists for 2026–2027, marking an important step in strengthening the protection of media professionals....
Due to the growing evidence of deteriorating conditions for journalists and media freedom across Europe, in 2023 the Council of Europe launched the Council of Europe Journalists Matter campaign for the safety of journalists, a pan-European initiative to promote press freedom and protect...
National Focal Points from across Council of Europe member States gathered in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, on 22 April 2026 for the 4th meeting under the Journalists Matter Campaign, hosted by the Moldovan Presidency to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. The meeting marked an...
The safety of journalists was one of the topics addressed during the 10th edition of the Media Forum, Moldova’s annual gathering of journalists, media managers, public institutions, regulators, academia and international partners. A dedicated session entitled “Online Harassment: How and Where Do...
Republic of Moldova, National chapter
