On 15-16 May 2024, a delegation of the People’s Advocate Office of the Republic of Moldova, led by the country’s Ombudsperson, Mr Ceslav Panico, carried out a study visit to Lisbon, Portugal. The delegation also included members of the Consultative Council for Preventing Violation of the Rights of Refugees, set up in March 2022 to support the People’s Advocate Office in the context of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The aim of the visit was to facilitate the exchange of experience and good practices in the field of promotion and protection of human rights of foreigners and persons in need of international protection.

The study visit started with a meeting at the Portuguese Ombudsman’s Office, where the Moldovan delegation was received by the Deputy Ombudsman of Portugal, Mr Ravi Afonso Pereira. The sides exchanged on the rights of foreigners and refugees, detention of migrants and refugees, national preventive mechanism and explored possibilities for further bilateral cooperation, also in the broader context of Moldova’s accession to the European Union.

The agenda of the visit also included a meeting with Ms Paula Cardoso, the Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of Assembleia da República (the Portuguese Parliament) and the Parliamentary Groups and Single Party Representative deputies on the legal aspects related to immigration, asylum and protection of human rights of refugees and migrants as well regarding the policy on integration of migrants.

Another highlight of the visit was the fruitful discussion with the representatives of the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) on good practices and challenges regarding the reception and integration of refugees and migrants.

The study visit to Portugal was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova ", funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2021-2024) and implemented by the Council of Europe.