In continuation of the roundtable on 25 November 2025, dedicated to the latest findings and recommendations of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) for the Republic of Moldova, key national partners met with the Council of Europe and European Union representatives and national experts to advance discussions on Roma and on LGBTI rights.

During the first day round-table, participants flagged  the continuous occurrence of discrimination cases against Roma persons in the country, and that voices fighting for a change continue to face difficulties to be heard. The second day of the event focused on advancing LGBTI rights in the Republic of Moldova, highlighting the importance of education, awareness‑raising, and constructive cooperation between civil society and institutions to reduce prejudice and promote equal treatment.

Several legal and policy analyses were presented, offering practical solutions for strengthening the national framework. Experts emphasised the need to develop clear procedures for legal gender recognition and guidance on gender‑affirming medical services, in line with ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 17. They also pointed to opportunities to introduce legal recognition for same‑sex civil partnerships, reinforce safeguards for gender‑affirming healthcare, and establish consistent procedures for ensuring the safety and dignity of LGBTI persons in detention.

In addition, the most recent study developed in cooperation with People’s Advocate Office and Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova ’’Respect for the rights of vulnerable and marginalised persons in places of detention in the Republic of Moldova: handling LGBTIQI+ persons in police and penitentiaries’’ was presented, this being a premiere for the country and for the region. The findings and recommendations of this research for the relevant actors in the field aim to improve the protection mechanism of the envisaged target group, which has a particular vulnerability in terms of hatred and cruel treatment in places of detention.

Being guided by ECRI representatives, participants in these two events analysed together solutions to improve communication between relevant actors and to identify collaboration opportunities and coordinated action for further improvements in the field. These events also reaffirmed the European Union and Council of Europe support and commitment to aligning the national practice to relevant standards in the field, to promote tolerance, equality, and respect for all citizens, as part of the EU accession process of the country.

This event is part of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova”, organised in synergy with the Council of Europe project “Enhancing diversity and equality in the Republic of Moldova - phase II”.