What is the goal and objective of the project

The project's overall objective is to develop a system of support and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova (LGBTI, women, ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, amongst the others), enhance social inclusion and strengthen protection against discrimination, hatred and hate crimes.

The project is implemented under the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2025 - 2028), by the Council of Europe Anti-discrimination Cooperation Unit (ACU), together with the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics Unit (SOGIESC),based on the results achieved in the Phase I, (2021 – 2024).

The project will provide tailor-made technical assistance to the Republic of Moldova for the implementation of the CM/Rec(2010)5 on measures to  combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, but also CM Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)4 on combating hate crime and  CM/Rec(2022)16 on combating hate speech, ECRI Report (sixth monitoring cycle), as well as for the effective execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgments on racial profiling and investigation of hate crimes on SOGIESC grounds.

The Phase II of the project started in January 2025 and will be implemented until December 2026.

 Funding: The total project budget is 800,000 EUR funded through the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2025 – 2028;

 Duration of the project: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026;

 Leaflet of the project.

 Who benefits from the project?

 How does the action work?

Through a combination of tailored policy/legislative, capacity-building and awareness raising actions.

 What do we expect to achieve?

Vulnerable groups (LGBTI, women, ethnic and religious minorities, people with physical and mental disabilities, amongst the others) in the Republic of Moldova will enjoy better protection against stigmatisation, discrimination and bias-motivated violence. This will be achieved by:

• providing technical assistance, expertise and good practices, for an improved domestic legislation and policies on human rights and equality in alignment with European standards, focusing on vulnerable groups;
• enhancing implementation capacity of public authorities, relevant services and stakeholders in the sectors of justice, law enforcement, health, labour and social protection, education and asylum to prevent and combat discrimination and hatred on all grounds;
• increasing awareness among the general public on cultural and societal prejudices and empower civil society and vulnerable groups to act against discrimination, hatred and intolerance.

 Publications complete and ongoing projects