Do people in the Republic of Moldova feel that their rights are respected? Do they know their rights and where to turn when those rights are violated? And are they ready to stand up for them?

A new Study offers some encouraging answers – but also shows where important gaps remain.

Presented on 6 October 2026 in Chișinău, the Study “Perceptions of Human Rights in the Republic of Moldova – Public Opinion Survey 2025” shows that people are becoming better informed about their rights and increasingly ready to exercise and defend them. Perceptions of the enjoyment of several specific rights have also improved.

But knowing your rights – and being ready to defend them – is not always enough.

Economic hardship, difficulties in accessing clear and understandable information, low trust in institutions and complaint mechanisms, and concerns about possible repercussions continue to affect people’s ability to turn rights recognised on paper into rights enjoyed in practice.

Conducted every two years since 2016 under the auspices of the Ombudsperson’s Office, the Study tracks how people’s knowledge, experiences and perceptions of human rights have changed over time. Supported by the Council of Europe, the 2025 edition marks ten years of this research, offering a longer-term picture of what has changed and where challenges persist.

The improvements reflected in the findings are an important indication of the efforts undertaken by the authorities to strengthen human rights protection in the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, people’s perceptions remain essential and should be taken into account when developing public policies and determining further action in this field,” said Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău.

Why do these perceptions matter? Because they offer a perspective that goes beyond laws and institutional frameworks, showing how human rights are experienced in people’s everyday lives and where further attention may be needed. For the Ombudsperson’s Office, this perspective is an important part of the broader picture used to assess the human rights situation.

“Understanding how people themselves perceive the respect and enjoyment of their rights is essential for our work. These perceptions complement the complaints we receive, our monitoring activities and the findings of national and international mechanisms,” said Ceslav Panico, People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Moldova.

Beyond supporting the Ombudsperson’s monitoring work, the findings also provide public authorities, civil society and international partners with evidence to better identify areas requiring further attention, better target policies and measures, and support continued progress in human rights protection in the Republic of Moldova.

The event took place within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Support to the Office of the Ombudsperson in the protection of human rights in the Republic of Moldova – Phase II”, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028 and in support of the objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe.