Project Summary:

The project is grounded in the United Nations human rights-based norms and standards and pursues strengthening of the effective exercise of human rights by people residing on the left bank of Nistru through fostering improvement of institutional frameworks in the area of disability, gender based violence and HIV, PWIDs and people in prisons.

The project is funded by the Government of Sweden, is implemented through the UN Multi-Donor Trust Fund, and is framed around three inter-linked components (rights of persons with disabilities, women in vulnerable situations, and HIV/AIDS) which are led by OHCHR, UNDP, and UNAIDS/UNODC. These are aiming to advance Moldova’s progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 5 (Gender Equality), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Objectives:

• An increased number of women and men, as well as children with disabilities, enjoying the range of community-based services for ensuring the effective exercise of their rights on an equal basis with others, as per the UN human rights standards;
• Enhanced protection to victims and potential victims of domestic violence and empowerment of individuals to prevent and address the problems at their roots in the region;
• Scaled up access to quality and integrated prevention, treatment and care services for people living with HIV, TB and people who inject drugs in the civilian and prison sectors of the region.

Expected results:

Component 1: Non-discrimination and social inclusion of children and adult persons with disabilities (OHCHR)

• Duty bearers trained and capacitated on international standards with regard to rights of persons with disabilities (at least 100 relevant responsible officers);
• Organizations of women and men with disabilities empowered to take action in protection and advancement of non-discrimination and their fundamental human rights as per the international standards, in particular through establishment of the regional Alliance of Persons with Disabilities with established close collaboration ties with similar organizations and alliances form the right bank of the Nistru;
• Normative framework reviewed and adjusted – to the furthest extent possible – in line with the international standards with regard to rights of persons with disabilities;
• At least 50 women and men, as well as children with disabilities from the pilot 1-2 communities have access to a range of inclusive CRPD-compliant community services developed and piloted to provide a successful model to be multiplied and scaled-up at the next stages;
• Raised awareness among opinion and decision-makers and wider society about the rights-based concept of disability – with at least 100,000 persons covered by awareness-raising activities.

Component 2 Enhancing gender equality and combating violence against women (UNDP)

• One functional social reintegration service/centre and two non-residential services providing assistance to victims of DV and HT on the left bank of Nistru;
• At least 15 trained staff members providing social services, and capacities of key stakeholders (to protect and assist various socially marginalized groups strengthened;
• Continuing emergency assistance and economic reintegration for women, victims of domestic violence and/or human trafficking, through receiving opportunities for training and employment/self-employment;
• Public awareness raised to support prevention/disclosure of domestic violence and human trafficking cases.

Component 3: Improving prevention, treatment and care services for PLHIV, PWIDs and people in prisons (UNAIDS and UNODC)

• 2 HIV policy documents gender and HR sensitive and mainstreamed;
• 3 assessment reports – Gender, Stigma index and of comprehensive package of services in prisons inform the policy making process to mainstream gender and HR;
• Testing algorithms (1 document) +referral mechanism (1 document) in place;
• Environment secured through safe innovative waste management equipment provided to prisons and communitarian services of 100% medical waste produced by harm reduction projects by 2017
• Stigma and Discrimination decreased in health institutions;
• 20 high level decision makers from the prison sector support the implementation of comprehensive package of quality integrated care for HIV and PWIDs;
• At least 10 high level decision makers from law enforcement bodies support harm reduction and have the capacities to ensure personal security and safety at the workplace;
• 2000 inmates enjoy better access to HIV comprehensive services in prisons;
• 60 health specialists (epidemiologists, lab staff, drug dependency, doctors, communicable diseases specialists, staff from civil society) gained skills to provide qualitative and friendly services to their beneficiaries;
• 4 OST sites are piloted and extended on the left (2 units) and right bank (3 units);
• 50 PWIDs from both banks are enrolled in the OST treatment;
• Public awareness on drug dependency, prevention of HIV stigma and discrimination in health care settings raised and cover about 5000 persons from key populations and 200 health workers;
• 200 beneficiaries referred to Harm Reduction programs through law enforcement authorities by the beginning of 2018.

Accomplishments:

Component 2 Enhancing gender equality and combating violence against women

• The temporary shelter is functional and continues to provide assistance in most complicated cases of domestic violence on the left bank of Nistru;
• Two regional hubs in Slobozia and Grigoriopol ensure outreach to local communities, identifying, assisting and referring cases of domestic violence;
• The reconstruction works of the new permanent shelter started with the financial support of the EU and the Government of Sweden;
• The continuity of the assistance process for the victims of domestic violence has been ensured through signing amendments to the grant agreements with the selected partner NGOs, covering the period November 2017- May 2018;
• Since the establishment of the services to assist victims of domestic violence, namely the temporary shelter located in Bender and the regional centers in Grigoriopol and Slobozia, assisted and oriented 1,065 people, of which 946 were women, 96 children and 23 men, as follows:
  • 606 women were informed about the phenomenon and consequences of domestic violence, as well as about existing services;
  • 459 people received at least one service or more: legal services, psychological services, employment consultations and other;
  • 44 people were employed.

As a result, the issue of domestic violence has received such visibility for the first time in 39 communities, increasing awareness of people about the phenomenon and consequences of domestic violence, as well as about existing support services. Thanks to the created services, 80 women managed to start their lives again, 64 leaving the aggressor and another 16 divorcing. More than 90 victims managed to re-enforce their rights, particularly when it comes to property rights, the restoration of parental rights, receiving social payments, obtaining ID cards for them and their children, being also assisted to address to the police department on the facts of the violence from partner. According to the data presented by the partner NGOs, a number of 129 women can be considered socially integrated, after the intervention of specialists of created services.