History
People’s Advocate Office is an institution similar to the European and international institutes of Ombudsman that operates under The Law on the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) No. 52 of 04/03/2014.
Previously institution was called the Centre for Human Rights, who worked from 1998 under the Law on Parliamentary Advocates, 1349-XIII from 17 October 1997 as an important non-judicial mechanism for human rights in Moldova. The Center for Human Rights of Moldova was composed of 4 parliamentary advocates with equal rights. One of them was specialized in issues of child rights protection (Children’s Advocate). A number of public servants, provided to parliamentary advocates organizational, information, scientific-analytical, economic-financial assistance. Four Representative in Balti, Cahul and Comrat (the Territorial-Autonomous Unit “Gagauz-Yeri”) and Varniţa, worked as territorial subdivisions of the institution.
Representative offices of the Center for Human Rights of Moldova in Bălţii, Cahul and Comrat were opened in 2001 by the decision of the Republic of Moldova Parliament. In 2012 was opened a new Representative Office in Varniţa, Anenii Noi District.
With the signing and ratification by the Republic of Moldova of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, in force since 24 July 2006, which stipulates the establishment of independent mechanisms for preventing torture at national level, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates was vested with this mission. A Consultative Board was created in order to provide assistance in the fulfillment of duties of parliamentary advocates as a national torture prevention mechanism that refers to performing preventive visits in places where people deprived of freedom are or can be. On 20 March 2008 through amendments to the Law on Parliamentary Advocates at 20.03.2008, was introduced the mandate of Parlamentary Advovate for protection of children rights. On 16-18 November 2009 in Geneva the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has accredited the Center of Human Rights of Moldova with the B status which shows the ability of Parliamentary Advocates institution to accomplish it’s tasks in the area of human rights protection, providing the recognition of the institution on the international level.
People’s Advocate Office is a member of: INTERNATIONAL OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTE, INSTITUTE OF EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN, THE ASSOCIATION OF OMBUDSMEN AND MEDIATORS OF LA FRANCOPHONIE. Created as an independent public authority to guarantee the enforcement of fundamental human rights and freedoms by central and local public authorities, institutions, organizations and enterprises, irrespective of their form of property, the community-based associations and people with positions of influence at all levels, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates is the authority that favors the balance between public authorities and the society, contributes to the protection of human rights by preventing the violation of these and restoring the rights, to the improvement of the legislation in the field and to the legal education of the population, applying the methods set out in the current legislation.