Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova

The Programme ”Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova” is in line with the strategic priorities for cooperation as formulated in the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2017-2020, and is funded by the Norwegian government.

It is aimed to ensure a higher respect for human rights and the rule of law by assisting the national authorities in building up an efficiently functioning criminal justice system, in line with European human rights standards, and based on the principles of humanisation, resocialisation and restorative justice.

Main intervention areas will cover policy/legal framework, institutional and practical implementation levels, with the focus on:

Consolidation of criminal justice policy, legislation and judiciary practice in line with international standards with respect to the liberalization of criminal proceedings, including strengthening the application of non-custodial pre-trial preventive measures and sanctions, alternative sanctions in criminal cases, improvement of probation services and release on parole mechanisms
Better treatment and resocialisation of inmates by improving the regulatory and policy framework as well as prison staff capacities relevant to regime arrangements and management of prisons, implementation of treatment programmes and provision of health care services for inmates;
Support towards the development of the capacities of criminal justice stakeholders in the light of the implementation of the on-going reforms, including judiciary, prosecution service, as well as Ombudsperson’s institution and National Prevention Mechanism (NPM).

The Programme is expected to be implemented in 36 months (as of 1 March 2018).

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Draft Code of Medical Ethics for the prison system of the Republic of Moldova finalised

@ Council of Europe

A final draft of the Code of Medical Ethics for the prison system of the Republic of Moldova (the Code) is finalised.

The Code provides a common ethical framework intended to establish standards of ethical practice that can be interpreted and applied in particular situations, to guide physicians in fulfilling their obligation to provide the highest standard of care and to promote patient and public trust in physicians and the profession. This Code is addressed to all healthcare professionals in prisons in the Republic of Moldova, acting individually or under legal entities that provide health care, regardless of their legal status and professional roles. It relies on Council of Europe standards and best European practices.

The Code was agreed upon and drafted by a Working Group composed of representatives of concerned directorates of the National Administration of Penitentiaries (medical, legal, human resources and penitentiary inspection) and the specialists from individual penitentiaries: no. 16 - Pruncul/Prison Hospital, no. 7 – Rusca and no. 11 - Balti. Their work was supported and facilitated by the Council of Europe consultants.

The activity was organised under the auspices of the Programme “Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the Government of Norway and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Republic of Moldova 8 October 2020