Under its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Republic of Moldova hosted a high-level international conference dedicated to an essential goal: transforming European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments into real change for people.

Titled „The European Convention on Human Rights System – Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights”, the event brought together judges, prosecutors, lawyers, government officials, civil society representatives, and international experts to strengthen cooperation and reinforce the protection of fundamental human rights across the country.

Discussions focused on a central question: how can the execution of ECtHR judgments lead to tangible improvements in human rights protection and restore trust in justice? Participants explored concrete solutions to persistent challenges in execution, focusing on preventing repeated violations, ensuring effective remedies for applicants, and strengthening public confidence in national justice systems.

Through in-depth panel discussions, participants examined practical ways to increase institutional awareness of ECtHR standards, improve coordination between national authorities, better integrate ECtHR case law into domestic legislation, policies, and judicial practice.

A dedicated session addressed cases originating from the Transnistrian region, highlighting institutional responsibilities toward applicants, the importance of effective support mechanisms, and approaches to determining just satisfaction in complex contexts.

Government Agents from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Romania, and Ukraine shared national experince and best practices, demonstrating how accelerated individual measures, strong interinstitutional cooperation and the active involvement of civil society can enhance transparency and accountability in the execution process.

The conference concluded with a strong, shared message: effective execution of ECtHR judgments is not a technical obligation, but a cornerstone of justice, democracy, and human dignity.  It also reaffirmed the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to the rule of law, underscoring that timely and meaningful execution is key to fair justice and stronger democratic institutions.

The event was co-organised by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, the Government Agent’s Office, and the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova phase II”, with the support of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe.