This joint European Union and Council of Europe Project aims to increase awareness and respect for human rights, in particular freedom of expression and private life, in developing the information society in the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, the project envisages increasing proportion of CoE recommendations are implemented by the authorities to bring Internet legislation into line with CoE and international human rights standards.

The project was launched in the July 2015 it has the following main indicators:

• National Internet legislation and policies are in line with CoE adopted standards on Internet and human rights;
• A national Internet governance multi-stakeholder dialogue is established/supported in the Republic of Moldova;
• Internet service providers (ISPs) have increased commitment to human rights in line with the CoE Human Rights Guidelines for ISPs;
• Internet users in general and children and youth in particular have an increased awareness and capacity to monitor the respect of their human rights on Internet.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in Moldova has launched the implementation of an information society development strategy - Digital Moldova 2020, a new policy which goes in line with the Council of Europe (CoE) Action Plan to support democratic reforms in the Republic of Moldova (2013 – 2016) This project brings an added value since it deems to equal the ICT growth and securing and ensuring human rights on Internet platform.and Association Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 27 of June 2014 and ratified by the national Parliament on 2 of July 2014 (hereinafter the Association Agreement), which defines the role and ways of co-operation between all stakeholders – public, non-governmental and private sectors - participating in the development of an inclusive and modern information society.

The CoE has strong expertise in human rights and internet governance and has already developed and adopted a series of related standards and principles for the member states. Its expertise is necessary for promoting the Digital Moldova 2020’s strategy principles, in order to ensure that human rights are protected when shaping public policies that take into regard internet infrastructure and access, content, services, literacy, etc.

Following this, the project will focus on the following activities:

1. Preparation of expert report and recommendations on national policies in line with CoE adopted standards on Internet and human rights;

2. Training of public officials on CoE adopted standards on Internet and human rights;

3. Public awareness campaign about the CoE Guide to human rights for Internet users;

4. Training of ISPs with regards to the CoE Human Rights Guidelines for ISPs, delivered in cooperation with EuroISPA;

5. Setting up of the national Internet Governance Forum.

TO WHOM THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED FOR

The main target groups of the project are public officials of the relevant national authorities including civil society.

However the final beneficiaries are Internet users, especially children who should enjoy equal human rights and better protection in Internet, in line with the CoE/ECHR provisions and other European standards.