More than 80 persons, partners from the country and abroad have participated to the International Conference organized by the People’s Advocate Office with the title „Evolution and role of the national institutions for human rights protection in the modern society”. The event took place on September 27, 2018 at the Republic’s Palace with the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the National Human Rights Institution of the Republic of Moldova.
Through the participants of the conference was Vladimir Turcan, President of the Commission for Human Rights and Interethnic Relations; the state secretary of the Ministry of Justice and ex-director of the Center for Human Rights of Moldova, Anatolie Munteanu; other officials; the ex-ombudsmen, Mihail Sidorov, Iurie Perevoznic, Tamara Plamadeala; UN Interim Resident Coordinator/ UNICEF Country Representative, Desiree M. Jongsma; representatives of UNDP, OHCHR Moldova, Council of Europe, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch; representatives of scientific community, diplomatic corp and civil society.
To this event also participated the International Ombudsman Institute Secretary General, Günther Kräuter; representative of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), Zoe Vautrand; Ombudsman of Lithuania, Augustinas Normantas; Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmila Denisova; deputies of Ombudsman of Romania, Ionel Nicolae and Magda Constanta Stefanescu; Deputy Human Rights Defender, Artyom Sedrakyan. Beate Rudolf, the president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) also addressed a video message to the participants.
During the conference it was examined the evolution of ombudsman institutions and national human rights institutions.
Victor Tvircun, PhD, professor, coordinator of the Section of humanities and arts of the Academy of Science of Moldova spoke about the role of Charles XII of Sweden in the establishment of ombudsman institution, he presented the historical context of the ombudsman concept appearance, the circumstances which determined Charles XII in appointing a Chancellor of Justice during the period when he stayed on the current territory of Moldova.
The speech topic of the ambassador of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova, Anna Lyberg was the establishment of the Parliamentary Ombudsman in Sweden – basis for the establishment of the national human rights institutions.
During the first session of the conference, Olesea Perean, a national expert in the field of human rights, OHCHR Moldova referred to the importance of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a crucial stage in the development of the human rights concept, system for the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Günther Kräuter spoke about the role of IOI in promoting the idea of establishing national human rights institutions, strengthening and extending their mandate and the representative of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) Zoe Vautard, presented a speech with the title „Paris Principles – international standards for operation of some powerful, efficient, independent and pluralist national human rights institutions”.
The second session of the conference was dedicated to the evolutions of the National Human Rights Institution of the Republic of Moldova. This session started with a documentary film about the People’s Advocate being followed by a speech on the importance of establishing the National Human Rights Institution in the Republic of Moldova and its role in the promotion and protection of human rights presented by the program specialist, UNDP Moldova, Alla Skvortova.
This session included the interventions of CHRM director during the period 2008-2015, Anatolie Munteanu, parliamentary lawyers Mihail Sidorov, Iurie Perevoznic, Tamara Plamadeală about the specificity of the mandate they exercised.
The president of the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality, Ian Feldman referred to the collaboration of the national human rights institutions in ensuring the observance of human rights in the Republic of Moldova.
During the mentioned about session several speakers presented the opinion of the institution or organizations they represent about the impact of NHRI on ensuring the observance of human rights in the Republic of Moldova (Judge in the Constitutional Court, Igor Dolea, Head of office ad interim of the Council of Europe Office, Eva Gutjah; the representative of the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova, Ion Guzun). The session was closed with the interventions of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, Maia Banarescu and the People’s Advocate, Mihail Cotorobai about IDNO profile from the Republic of Moldova – PAO at 20 years of activity, priorities in exercising the mandates.
During the last session there were discussed the aspects related to the role of the national human rights institutions in the modern society to the effect that their mandate was extended from the moment they appeared and up to date.
The Representatives of the national human rights institutions of Lithuania, Armenia, Romania spoke about the evolutions of the ombudsmen institutions of these countries and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmila Denisova referred to the role of ombudsman in the conflict and post-conflict situations. The aspects of the NHRI role in the post-conflict situations was also the speech subject of the head of the Bureau fort Reintegration Policies, Marin Gherman and the member of UN Committee against torture, Ana Racu spoke about the NHRI role in preventing and fighting against torture.
On the second day of the international conference the people’s advocates, staff of the PAO and foreign guests visited the Site „ Camp of King Charles XII of Sweden from Varnita” where 305 years ago was signed the document on establishment of the ombudsman position. The foreign guests were also informed about the specificity of the activity of the Ombudsman’s Office representative in Varnita which is situated in an area with increased security regime and they visited the Museum“ Bender Fortress”.
During the conference activities the People’s Advocate, Mihail Cotorobai discussed with the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Liudmila Denisova about the perspective of developing the collaboration of the People’s Advocate Office with the similar institution of this country and they signed a memorandum of cooperation between those two institutions.
