Moldova: UN expert to assess human rights issues

GENEVA / CHISINAU (6 September 2013) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Magdalena Sepúlveda will undertake an official visit to the Republic of Moldova from 9 to 13 September 2013 to gather first-hand information on the living conditions of people experiencing extreme poverty. Special Rapporteur Sepúlveda is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to report on initiatives to promote and protect the rights of people living in extreme poverty.

“Moldovan legislation includes a number of progressive national laws that can advance the country in eliminating poverty, yet many groups of the population still live below the poverty line or in various states of exclusion or marginalization,” Ms. Sepúlveda noted.

“During my visit, I will assess social protection measures and other Government programmes aimed at assisting women, children, ethnic minorities (in particular Romani people), older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBT persons, victims of trafficking, stateless or undocumented persons, and other vulnerable groups, focusing on the challenges of inequality and social exclusion,” Ms. Sepúlveda said.

The human rights expert will evaluate how the State is addressing their situation while ensuring the enjoyment of their full range of rights, including access to basic services like health, education, clean water and sanitation.

This is the first visit to the Republic of Moldova by an independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty.

Ms. Sepúlveda, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government, will engage with State and civil society actors in order to assess their efforts to eliminate extreme poverty while respecting human rights, as well as challenges faced by the country in its efforts to fulfill its commitments towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

She will also assess the compatibility of the State’s development and poverty reduction policies and programmes with international human rights obligations, and identify practical solutions and best practices in combating extreme poverty while ensuring the realization of human rights.

During her week-long visit, the rights expert will meet with persons and groups living in poverty in a number of urban and rural communities throughout the country. Her mission includes site visits to institutions and communities on both banks of the river Nistru. She will meet with senior Government officials including representatives of Ministries and agencies. She will also hold meetings with civil society representatives, representatives from the UN Country Team in Moldova, international agencies, and the Moldovan Centre for Human Rights (Ombuds institution).

Ms. Sepúlveda will hold a press conference to share the preliminary findings of her visit at 11:30 a.m. on Friday 13 September 2013, at UN House, located at No. 131, 31 August 1989 Street, Chisinau.

The Special Rapporteur’s observations and recommendations will be reflected in her final report, which will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014.

(2013-09-06/scoop)