Under the guidance of the international expert Liza Sekaggya from the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Geneva, about 26 personnel from the People’s Advocate Office (Ombudsman) deepened their knowledge and understanding of the international principles that guides the mandate of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) at a workshop conducted on 18-19 April 2016.

In the context, constructive discussions had been held about the mandate and independence of a NHRI, the core functions of a NHRI, which shall be promotion of human rights, including education and advisory services; protection, including investigating and documenting human rights violations and handling individual complaints; monitoring and reporting.

The participants debated on the role of a NHRI in advancing the rule of law, possibilities of interaction with the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs, the UN and regional human rights system, so as the role of a NHRI vis-à-vis national stakeholders like government, the civil society and mass media. The participants shared their experience of performing the core responsibilities as well as exchanged opinions on improvement the existing operation system within the institution.  

In addition, a session was dedicated to getting familiar with and understanding the accreditation process before the International Coordination Committee, which is the international body that grants a status (A, B or C) to NHRIs based on the compliance of its mandate and practice with the Paris Principles. A-status for a NHRI is considered to fulfill its’ mandate in full compliance with the Paris Principle and benefits from a set of privileges within the international and national NHRIs networks. Currently the People’s Advocate Office (Ombudsman) is a B-status NHRI, which was granted back in 2009.

Two representatives of the Council on the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality, which is a specialized NHRI in the country dealing exclusively with the discrimination and equality issues, also attended the workshop.

This event was organized within the “Supporting National Human Rights Institutions as per International Treaty Bodies and Universal Periodical Review Recommendations” project, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in cooperation with the People’s Advocate Office and the Council on the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality.