The Council of Europe has officially launched the project “Support to the Office of the Ombudsperson in the protection of human rights in the Republic of Moldova”. The 24-months long project (April 2024 – March 2026) is funded by the voluntarily contributions of donors in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024, and the ordinary budget of the Organisation, and has a total budget of 800 000 euros.  

The main objective of the Project is to achieve a better protection of citizens’ rights and an improved mechanism for seeking redress through the enhanced capacity of the Ombudsperson’s Office (OO). Through targeted interventions and capacity-building initiatives, the project aims to streamline the managerial capacities within the OO in line with European standards, to strengthen the role of the OO in interacting with the European Court of Human Rights system and to enhance the human rights promotion and advocacy mechanism within the OO.

The project seeks cooperation with the following partners: The Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Governmental Agent of the Republic of Moldova, and the Equality Council. Its end beneficiaries encompass the entire population of the Republic of Moldova, vulnerable groups and individuals seeking protection and redress for human rights violations.

In his opening remarks, Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, emphasized the role of the project in supporting national human rights institutions, stating: “The Council of Europe remains committed to supporting the establishment and empowerment of independent and effective Ombudspersons institutions within its member States. I am confident that this project will contribute significantly to maximizing the positive impact on the Ombudsperson’s institution and allow its further development”.

The Ombudsperson, Ceslav Panico, echoed these statements, highlighting: “Through this partnership with the Council of Europe, we are firmly committed to strengthening and promoting the independence and effectiveness of our institution, in order to become a model institution in the region. This moment is an important step in aligning with the European human rights standards and strengthening the rule of law in our country. With the support of the Council of Europe, we are confident that we will build a fair and equal society, where every person will feel protected and respected”.

The project aligns with the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024, reinforcing the Organisation’s commitment to assisting member states in achieving European standards and best practices. Specifically, the project corresponds to the Action Plan’s objectives related to strengthening the rule of law, enhancing human rights protection, and supporting the work of national human rights institutions.