The Center “Partnership for Development” is a Moldovan non-governmental organization that holds the secretariat of the Coalition for Inclusion and Non-Discrimination, Gheorghina Drumea being the Secretary General at the Coalition. Recently, the organization contributed to the modification of several university’s law curricula to include the topics of hate crimes and discrimination. The Center “Partnership for Development” is one of the grantees under the Addressing Hate-Based Crimes in Moldova (AHC) project implemented by Millennium Partners.


 Gheorghina, what do you consider to be the main human rights challenges in the Republic of Moldova?

The Republic of Moldova faces several significant challenges in the field of human rights, requiring a comprehensive approach and sustainable solutions to foster a fair and inclusive society. One of the most pressing issues is persistent discrimination and intolerance toward ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. For instance, the Roma community faces deep-rooted prejudice, manifested by their social exclusion, limited access to education, employment, and healthcare services. LGBTQ+ individuals also encounter systemic discrimination, harassment, and violence, both in public and private spheres. The lack of adequate legislation and protective mechanisms against discrimination exacerbates the vulnerability of these groups. Public awareness campaigns and the promotion of tolerance are crucial to combating these negative attitudes and to building a more inclusive society.

Domestic and gender-based violence is another severe and persistent issue in Moldova, disproportionately affecting women and children. Support for victims is often insufficient and inadequate. While legislation exists to penalize domestic violence and provide protective measures, its implementation remains deficient.

How are hate crimes manifested in the Republic of Moldova? Which groups or individuals are most affected?

Hate crimes in the Republic of Moldova manifest in various forms, ranging from physical and verbal assaults to hate speech, incitement to violence, and acts of vandalism. The LGBTQ+ community is particularly vulnerable, frequently facing discrimination, harassment, and violence in both public and private spaces. Public events or demonstrations organized by this community are often met with hostility and opposition.

Ethnic and religious minorities, especially the Roma community, are also targets of prejudice and hate-motivated attacks. These groups face negative stereotypes that hinder their access to education, employment, and public services. Immigrants and refugees from Ukraine also experience discrimination and social exclusion, making it harder for them to integrate and adapt to their new environment.

What is the extent of this phenomenon, and are the enabling factors?

The extent of hate crimes is difficult to quantify due to underreporting of incidents. Many victims refrain from filing complaints due to a lack of trust in authorities or fear of retaliation. Additionally, the absence of systematic data collection and accurate statistics complicates the assessment of the actual situation. Factors such as deeply rooted prejudices, negative stereotypes, insufficient education promoting tolerance, and an unclear legal framework contribute to the perpetuation and intensification of hate crimes.

What challenges do law enforcement professionals face when dealing with hate crimes?

Professionals in this field face numerous challenges, with the lack of adequate specialized training being a top priority. Many officers lack the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and effectively address hate crimes, which can lead to insufficient investigations or the incorrect legal classification of these offenses.

An unclear or incomplete legal framework further complicates law enforcement efforts. Legislative ambiguities can hinder the prosecution process and allow perpetrators to avoid punishment. Limited resources are another significant issue. A lack of specialized personnel and adequate equipment impacts authorities’ ability to respond promptly and effectively to hate-motivated incidents.

Underreporting of incidents presents an additional challenge. Due to mistrust in the justice system or fear of retaliation, many victims avoid cooperating with authorities, making it harder to gather evidence and prosecute offenders. Moreover, social and political pressures can negatively influence the independence and impartiality of the judicial process, undermining efforts to combat hate crimes.

Why is proper training for future professionals in the field important? Who is responsible for this, and where are the gaps?

Ensuring robust training for future law enforcement professionals is essential for effectively combating hate crimes and protecting human rights. Well-trained professionals can more easily identify such offenses, provide adequate support to victims, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under the law. This contributes to strengthening public trust in law enforcement institutions and fostering a society based on mutual respect and tolerance.

Responsibility for this lies primarily with educational institutions, such as universities and police academies, which must include specialized modules on hate crimes and human rights in their curricula. Non-governmental organizations also play a significant role by offering additional training and resources for professionals.

However, there are still many gaps that need to be addressed. Insufficient integration of specialized training into educational programs, limited financial resources, and a lack of cooperation between relevant institutions are major obstacles. Greater investment in the development and implementation of training programs and closer collaboration between all stakeholders are needed to ensure proper preparation of future professionals and to improve society’s response to hate crimes.

What are your objectives within the project with Millennium Partners, and how will this project benefit the organization and its beneficiaries?

As part of the project in collaboration with Millennium Partners, our organization is working on developing a master’s program at the Police Academy focused on discrimination and hate crimes, along with the corresponding course materials. The goal is to equip future police officers and law enforcement professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively handle such cases and protect victims’ rights.

The project also aims to promote curricular reforms in other higher education institutions in Moldova, such as the State University and the University of Bălți, by introducing courses on anti-discrimination and hate crimes. By expanding this educational initiative, we aim to shape a generation of professionals who are aware of the importance of combating discrimination and capable of intervening effectively in such situations.

This initiative has already yielded notable results: the administrations of the Police Academy and the State University of Moldova have agreed to integrate, starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, topics related to identifying and addressing cases of discrimination, as well as bias-motivated offenses, into their master’s degree curricula.

Another essential component of the project is organizing training sessions for lawyers and legal trainees. These sessions aim to enhance practitioners’ skills in handling discrimination cases and hate crimes, thus improving their ability to protect victims and promote justice.

The project’s advocacy activities focus on developing and promoting new legislation to standardize approaches to combating discrimination and hate-motivated incidents, ensuring more effective protection for victims, particularly those from vulnerable and marginalized groups.

What are the organization’s priorities for the near future, and where is partner support most needed?

We aim to continue strengthening the capacities of professionals in the legal and law enforcement fields by expanding training programs and consistently updating educational materials. We plan to intensify advocacy efforts to improve legislation, ensuring an adequate legal framework for combating discrimination and hate crimes.

Another important objective is promoting anti-discrimination education in as many educational institutions as possible, both at university and pre-university levels, raising awareness among young people and the public about the importance of tolerance and respect for diversity.

Financial support from development partners is crucial to carrying out these activities.

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