In continuation of the roundtable on 25 November 2025, dedicated to the latest findings and recommendations of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) for the Republic of Moldova, key national partners met with the Council of Europe and European Union representatives and national and international experts to advance discussions on the rights of LGBTI persons.
The event highlighted the importance of education, awareness‑raising, and constructive cooperation between civil society and institutions to reduce prejudice and promote equal treatment.
During the event, several legal and policy analyses were presented, offering practical solutions for strengthening the national framework to guarantee equal rights for LGBTI people. Experts emphasised the need to develop clear procedures for legal gender recognition and guidance on gender‑affirming healthcare, in line with ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 17. They also pointed to opportunities to introduce legal recognition for same‑sex civil partnerships to ensure equality in family life for LGBTI persons.
A study developed in cooperation with the People’s Advocate Office and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova “Respect for the rights of vulnerable and marginalised persons in places of detention in the Republic of Moldova: handling LGBTIQI+ persons in police and penitentiaries’’ was also presented. This study, a premiere for the country and for the region, proposed enhancements in the protection mechanism for LGBTI people, who face particular vulnerability to hatred and ill-treatment in places of detention.
Community representatives, along with national and international experts agreed that addressing the above-mentioned areas would significantly improve the protection of fundamental rights and contribute to a more inclusive society.
The representative of the Government Agent welcomed the constructive dialogue and highlighted the importance of implementing ECRI’s recommendations proactively, as part of Moldova’s broader efforts to align with European human rights standards and avoid future litigation before the European Court of Human Rights.
Being guided by representatives from ECRI and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristic (SOGIESC) Unit’s, participants analysed together solutions to improve collaboration and coordinated actions for further progress in the field. These events also reaffirmed the European Union and Council of Europe support and commitment to aligning the national practices to relevant standards in the field, and to promote inclusiveness, equality, and respect for all citizens, as part of the EU accession process of the country.
This event is part of the programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the project “Combating discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova”, organised in synergy with the Council of Europe projects “Enhancing diversity and equality in the Republic of Moldova - phase II” and “Promoting Human Rights and Equality for LGBTI Persons- Phase IV”.
