The Programme “Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova” continues its work on increasing the operational and professional capacities of the Ombudsperson institution in order to carry out its mandate effectively and efficiently under the new legislative and Constitutional framework.

Thus, in autumn 2018 an assessment was carried out in order to determine the current and anticipated needs of the Ombudsperson Institution in terms of institutional, operational and professional development as well as fulfilment of its mandate. The assessment was based on desk review and interviews with a wide range of relevant stakeholders in the course of the fact-finding mission organised on 15-17 October 2018.

Following the needs assessment, a report was drafted and presented to the Ombudsperson Institution during a round table on 18 January 2019. The event provided a forum for the People’s Advocate for children’s rights, the staff members of the Ombudsperson Institution, the members of the National Preventive Mechanism, the consultants engaged by and the representatives of the Council of Europe to exchange views on the way ahead for the Ombudsperson institution. In particular, the discussion focused on the modalities of the delivery of the People’s Advocates’ mandates and the institutional development of the Ombudsperson Institution.

The Programme “Promoting a human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova” is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2017-2020 and it is funded by the Norwegian government.