Project Summary:

The project seeks to facilitate an enabling environment for improved cross-river interconnection between CSOs, communities, the Peoples’ Advocate and the focal point for human rights on the left bank of the Nistru river, reduced social tensions and the continuation of the fragile Transnistrian conflict settlement process in the context of growing regional and domestic geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. This will be done through the advancement of, and cross-river interaction on, human rights, gender-responsive peacebuilding and the promotion of equal access to services and through ensuring early intervention to prevent deepening divisions between the populations on either side of the conflict divide, which are currently being affected by highly divisive narratives, misinformation and hate speech.

The project is implemented by OHCHR, UN Women and UNDP.

Objective:

The main goal of the project is to facilitate an enabling environment for improved cross-river interconnectedness and interaction, reduced social tensions and the continuation of the settlement process.

The project seeks to support peace talks by strengthening trust and confidence between the communities on the two sides of the river as well as between the Moldovan authorities and the de facto structures through capacity building, cross-river engagement and cooperation between CSOs, institutions, de facto structures and other conflict settlement process actors with a specific and ambitious focus on human rights, gender equality and increased service delivery. This will contribute to better integration of human rights and gender equality perspectives in the negotiation agenda and help build capacities to more effectively address human rights, women, peace and security and gender equality issues in the peace process.

The project also aims to reduce the existing divisions between the communities on the left and right bank as well as between certain groups in Moldovan society, which are being aggravated by opposing views on the geopolitical situation, hate speech and mis/disinformation, and which also affects the refugee community. 

Expected results:

• Strengthened cross-river engagement and productive interaction through the advancement of human rights, the women, peace and security agenda and improved access to social services;

• Strengthened responses to divisive narratives and misinformation, thereby reducing inter-community tensions.

Accomplishments:

• 90 representatives of CSOs, media and IT sector have enhanced their capacity in development of digital solutions combating mis/disinformation and hate speech, following the participation in the Nistru TruthBridge Hackathon and workshops;
• 30 social media influencers and journalists have enhanced their media and online literacy, fostering discussions on critical thinking, ethics, and transparency;
• 164 participants from both banks of the Nistru River have engaged in five cross-sector working meetings focused on agriculture, public health, environment, tourism, social protection, and humanitarian aid and developed policy recommendations;
• The capacities of 25 persons to provide primary legal assistance for vulnerable people on the left bank have been improved;
• A comprehensive roadmap for the network of legal advisors has been developed, outlining clear steps for its establishment and ongoing support, while providing paralegals with enhanced resources to effectively serve their communities;
• 126 refugees and local residents have provided crucial data for enhancing social cohesion through eight deep listening exercises, informing a comprehensive needs assessment;
• A comprehensive needs assessment has been developed using data from deep listening exercises, identifying key areas for targeted interventions aimed to support community initiatives.