Four Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) from the Republic of Moldova present in a video produced by the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM) what it means to be an HRD, what actions can be taken by an HRD and what are the risks of this activity.

They include student Anastasia Suslov, who actively campaigns to protect the right to inclusive education, investigative journalist Victor Moșneag, equal opportunities activist Alina Andronache and musician Pasha Parfeni, who frequently campaigns to protect civil and political rights.

The video spot aims to inform citizens about the work of Human Rights Defenders, as well as raising awareness in society of the need to strengthen national efforts to protect human rights defenders. 

“The Legal Resources Centre from Moldova, together with other partner organizations, with the support of the European Union, aimed at informing society about the concept of HRDs, monitoring actions initiated against them and enabling HRDs to operate in a safe and enabling environment, in accordance with their rights and freedoms“, said Victoria Mereuță, legal officer at the LRCM.

She also noted that currently, Human Rights Defenders in the Republic of Moldova do not yet have an official status, and their work is only covered by complementary laws, such as the Law on Assemblies or the Law on Access to Information.

“My experience and that of fellow journalists shows that the work of HRDs is a risky one. There are situations where our physical integrity is put at risk, not to mention intimidation or verbal aggression. This is why I will always support the idea that encouraging and protecting HRDs should become a national priority“, said investigative journalist Victor Moșneag, who is also one of the protagonists of the video. 

For more information on Human Rights Defenders, please visit the online pages of the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova 

This video has been produced with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the project “Shields for human rights defenders – Supporting Human Rights Defenders in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented by the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM). The content presented is the sole responsibility of the LRCM and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.