The workshop “Practical aspects of investigating cases of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova” gathered representatives of the General Police Inspectorate and the Equality Council enabling further exchange about institutional proceeding of cases of discrimination.

The event was organised as follow up to a previous meeting where a necessity to address the practical aspects of examining, qualifying and documenting cases of discrimination, hate speech/hate crimes was recognised as a priority. Accordingly, the sessions in the programme covered internal procedures of law enforcement institutions, the competencies and practices in handling discrimination cases, as well methods of strengthening the cooperation between the General Police Inspectorate and Equality Council, for a better protection of victims of discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes.

Participants of the event were police officers, including the trainers on discrimination and equality and representatives of Police Directorates and Inspectorates from the Northern, Central and Southern regions of the country, as well as the Equality Council representatives. As an important outcome of this activity, a platform for dialogue and further cooperation was created among Police and the Equality Council, for maintaining cooperation on preventing and combating discrimination.

Representatives of above-mentioned institutions expressed their commitment to actively engage in joint awareness actions to combat discrimination, hate speech and bias-motivated offences in the Republic of Moldova, including at the local level. The importance of continuing and increasing cooperation among all relevant actors was highlighted, for the ultimate goal of a better protection of victims of discrimination, especially those from vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova.

This event is organized as a synergy of the  project Combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Partnership for Good Governance, “co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, and the Council of Europe Project ”Enhancing diversity and equality in the Republic of Moldova”,  implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2021-2024 and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.