INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MOLDAVIAN SECTION

On 25 December, 2008 the leaders of nongovernmental organizations came forward in defence of freedom of assembly in Moldova and carried out a march of solidarity with those who failed to hold their public actions due to interference of the authorities. The participants of the march in New Year's caps, masks of pigs and donkeys, were carrying small Christmas trees and slogans and sang songs about freedom of expression. President, leaders of the Parliament, Government, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, got symbolic New Year’s gifts: small Christmas trees with toy pigs and donkeys. This served as a reminder that the authorities may not like assemblies, but they must not interfere in their preparation and holding. More than that, the authorities must effectively defend participants of meetings against countermanifestants and make answerable those who impede assemblies.

In November 2008, the ISHR-MS launched the project “Developing after-care services for prisoners in Moldova”. The action is financed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine and Moldova.

On 12 November, 2008 the specialists of the Center for social reintegration of detainees and ex-detainees started the Program of skills development for problem solving with two groups of prisoners from penitentiary institution nr. 4, Cricova. 16 detainees from penitentiary institution nr. 4, Cricova are included into the program. The program consists of 16 lessons and takes 4 months.

In November 2008, two groups of detainees from penitentiary institution nr. 4, Cricova finished training according to the Program of skills development for problem solving that began in August 2008. The program is carried out by the specialists of the Center for social reintegration of detainees and ex-detainees within ISHR-MS. 17 prisoners participated in the training. At the end of the training, the participants got certificates which were annexed to the personal files of detainees.

In September 2008, the ISHR-MS distributed humanitarian goods donated by ISHR-German Section. 240 T-shirts were gifted to children from the kindergarten village Onitcani, rayon Criuleni; kindergarten village Hrusevo, rayon Criuleni; kindergarten nr. 68, Chisinau.

In August 2008, the International Society for Human Rights – Moldavian Section, with the financial support of the ISHR - Austrian Section, organized a humanitarian action for children homes of family type from villages Joloboc and Hîjdieni. More >>

On 06 August, 2008 the specialists of the Centre for social reintegration of detainees and ex-detainees started the Program of skills development for problem solving with two groups of prisoners. 17 detainees from penitentiary institution nr. 4, Cricova are included into the program. The program consists of 16 lessons and takes 4 months.

On 29 July, 2008 there was a visit organized of children to their imprisoned mothers in penitentiary for women P-4, Rusca. The visit was financially supported by the French Section of the International Society for Human Rights within the project "Strengthening family relations between mother prisoners and their children". More >>

On 23 July, 2008 two groups of detainees from penitentiary institution nr. 4, Cricova finished training according to the Program of skills development for problem solving that began in April 2008. The program is carried out by the specialists of the Centre for social reintegration of detainees and ex-detainees within ISHR-MS. 20 prisoners participated in the training. At the end of the training, the participants got certificates which were annexed to the personal files of detainees. The certificates are taken into account at the Penitentiary Commission for grant of parole.

On 17 July, 2008 the ISHR–MS and Amnesty International Moldova held a press-conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

On 26 June, 2008 the ISHR-MS collaborators participated in the public action to collect signatures in support of the torture victims. The action was organized by Amnesty International Moldova on the occasion of the UNO International Day for Victims of Torture. The action took place in the centre of the city, by the Organ Hall’s entry.

On 18 June, 2008 the ISHR-MS organized a visit of children to mother prisoners in P-7, village Rusca. The visit was organized within the project "Strengthening family relations between mother prisoners and their children" financially supported by the French Section of the International Society for Human Rights. More >>

On 14 February 2008, ISHR-MS in common with the organizations Amnesty International, CReDO, MEMORIA, Lawyers for human rights, Promo-Lex prepared a press-release on competitive selection of the members for Consultative Council against Torture.

The human rights organizations welcome the competitive selection of the members for Consultative Council against Torture. The announcement about the competition was published on 11 February on the website of the Centre for Human Rights in Moldova. For the first time in Moldova members of such a human rights structure are selected in a competition, but not appointed.

The Consultative Council has to carry out a serious and important activity on torture prevention in institutions of confinement in Moldova. Torture and cruel treatment are still one of the most serious human rights problems in the country. In 2007 the European Court for Human Rights decided against Moldova in 9 cases concerning violation of article 3 “Prohibition of torture” of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

On 7 February 2008, the collaborators of the Centre for social reintegration of detainees and former detainees visited the workplace fair that had been organized by the National Employment Agency.

At fair we learned the possibilities for employment and training of our beneficiaries after their release.