PEOPLES  ADVOCATES AT PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ORGANIZED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS

People’s Advocate, Mihail Cotorobai, and People’s Advocate for children’s rights, Maia Banarescu, have participated to public consultations organized on July 24, of this year by the Parliamentary Committee on human rights and inter-ethnical relations.

The purpose of this event was consulting with the actors from the field of human rights protection and children’s rights, public institutions, NGO’s, international organizations about the medium and long-term priorities of the Parliamentary Committee activity in this field as well as setting the first contacts for developing the future cooperation. 

In his speech, People’s Advocate, Mihail Cotorobai welcomed the idea on conducting the consultations which could be a first step in the direction of instituting a constant and efficient dialogue with the national institutions with attributions in this field and also with the representatives of Civil Society. The Ombudsman wished good luck to the members of the Parliamentary Committee for realizing their mandate, emphasizing that their success will be their common success. This is because it will mean that the observance of human rights and human dignity will become an absolute priority for the authorities.   

People’s Advocate considers that through the priorities of the Parliamentary Committee the following issues of human rights field should be identified:

Free access to justice

Freedom of opinion and expression (press freedom)

Ensuring the right to health protection

Prevention and fight against corruption

Prevention of torture and inhuman and degrading treatments

Consolidation of National Institutions of Human Rights Protection according to the international recommendations.

The Ombudsman also drew attention on the importance of insistent promotion of the principle on human rights based approach when elaborating all the policy documents, strategies, projects of legislative and regulatory acts. Human being and his interests should stay at the basis of any actions of authorities. This principle should be determinative in the activity of high officials and public servants. Mihai Cotorobai stated that only in this case the observance of human rights will be achieved. 

The Ombudsman has also proposed that the vision of People’s Advocate on the situation in the field of human rights observance in the Republic of Moldova, the priorities of the activity, recommendations on short period actions which follow to be undertaken by the authorities to be discussed during a meeting between the team of People’s Advocate Office and the members of the Committee on human rights and inter-ethnic relations.

People’s Advocate for children’s rights, Maia Banarescu, considers that the members of the Parliamentary Committee on human rights and inter-ethnic relations should also draw attention to such issues related to observance of children’s rights as well as support of children remained without the parental care, child safety at home, children’s Internet safety, violence against children, situation of children of the eastern part of the country. Children’s Ombudsman also referred to issues on improving legal framework referring to involvement of children in activities of political order and the manner of reflecting in press the subjects related to children’s rights.     

Maia Banarescu also pleaded for the amendment and completion of some provisions of the Law on observance of rights of the child.

People’s Advocate for children’s rights also has emphasized the stringent importance for introducing some regulations designated for preventing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by children.    

People’s Advocate also drew attention of the Committee members on the fact that it is extremely important to achieve the realization of the child right to opinion. Not less important is the fact that the children voice being heard by adults, authorities in order that their view point to be considered when adopting decisions in relation to them. Child Ombudsman has announced in the context that in short time she will organize an event where a Consultative council of children will be constituted.   

Maia Banarescu also has pleaded for instituting an efficient collaboration with the Committee members expressing her total openness for establishing a constructive and long term dialogue with the congressmen for settling current problems in the field of human rights.