“No-hate” Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from the Republic of Moldova visit the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau to discuss their implication in local work on non-discrimination and create synergies to involve the youth in future actions.

This meeting was a follow-up to the series of online and in-person trainings destined to more than 50 Young European Ambassadors from the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkans regions, with the objective to discuss European values and standards on human rights, non-discrimination, combating hatred and creating counter-narratives to hate speech.

“The involvement of young people is extremely important in awareness raising initiatives to reach out to citizens for informing them about rights and mechanisms for their protection, but also for encouraging them to take a stance against hatred and discrimination. It is essential to continue exchanging experiences and practices with peers from other states and to continue learning from each other. Only with the engagement of all relevant actors, can we contribute to improvements in promoting equality”, stated Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau.

“The network created for youth, for acquiring and sharing knowledge about human rights and promoting European values, paves the way for advancing equality and diversity in the Republic of Moldova, which is crucial in the context of European perspective of the country, with focus on strengthening the capacities to combat discrimination, hatred and racism in line with European standards, ultimately supporting the vulnerable groups”, mentioned Eduard Pesendorfer, Programme Manager from the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.

The Young European Ambassadors that were enrolled in the learning process highlighted the significant experience of increasing their knowledge on human rights and anti-discrimination with peers from the East and Southeast Europe regions. They also appreciated the idea of maintaining this platform of mutual learning active and moving ahead in planning activities, in person and online – with attention to protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups in society.

The exchange offered the possibility for participants to brainstorm on how to increase equality in the Republic of Moldova as a whole, but also in local communities, by using counter-narratives to hate speech, promoting “NO to hatred and discrimination” messages, and further promoting good examples and best practices of more inclusive societies, based on European values and standards.

This event was organised as part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”,  in the framework of the  project Combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova.

Find out more about the Young European Ambassadors initiative

Visit the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau website