The Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM) and the Office of the People’s Advocate (OPA) have signed a Cooperation Agreement to carry out joint activities in the field of protection and promotion of human rights and human rights defenders.

The document provides for the establishment of a partnership to bring the Republic of Moldova in line with international standards on fundamental freedoms and human rights defenders (HRDs). Thus, over the next two years, the teams of the LRCM and the OPA will cooperate in the process of developing sectoral policies and draft legislation on the protection of citizens’ civil and political rights.

Joint actions and research will also be carried out to improve the monitoring of human rights and to prevent violations of HRDs’ rights and ensure their effective protection.

“This agreement is in line with our strategic objectives and efforts in the field of respect, protection, and implementation of human rights in the Republic of Moldova. The LRCM and the OPA already have experiences of effective cooperation, and through the new objectives outlined in this agreement we aim to raise the level of protection of human rights and, in particular, of human rights defenders,” said Ilie Chirtoacă, Executive Director of the LRCM.

In the future, the LRCM and the OPA will intensify their research and advocacy efforts on draft legislation, declarations or appeals necessary for the protection of human rights and human rights defenders in the Republic of Moldova.

We mention that the Office of the People’s Advocate is the main national institution in the field of human rights protection, being an independent public authority that fosters a balance between state institutions and society. The Ombudsman contributes to preventing human rights violations and restoring rights, to improving related legislation, and to the legal education of the population.

The Legal Resources Centre from Moldova is a non-commercial organisation with over 12 years of experience in the field of human rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and contributes to a better knowledge of and compliance with it, as well as to the harmonisation of human rights legislation and practices in the criminal justice system.