Galina is one of the first refugees accommodated in Soroca. With the help of the DACIA Youth Resource Center, which is a member of the Dialogue Platforms for Access to Justice, Galina obtained employment documents and was hired at a local garment factory.

Refugees from Ukraine in Moldova will now be able to access free legal aid assistance, provided by the four Regional Dialogue Platforms for Access to Justice and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sweden.

The initiative will help people to register for refugee status, obtain identity and employment documents and enroll their children in schools or kindergartens, and will be available in the Soroca, Criuleni and Cimislia districts, as well as in the Gagauzia region.

"In these difficult times it is fundamental that we stand together and provide assistance to people who have fled the outrageous war in Ukraine, and who have found temporary shelter in Moldova. Sweden, together with UNDP, are helping to respond to the immediate needs of dozens of women, older people and children sheltered in Soroca, Criuleni, Cimișlia and Comrat. Our local partners, the NGOs working in the four regions, are on the front line continuing to promote and protect the rights of people in vulnerable situations," says Katarina Fried, Swedish Ambassador in Chisinau.

“People who fled the war in Ukraine and found shelter in Moldova, especially women, children, and older people, need legal support to help integrate with host communities. That is why UNDP and Sweden, through the partnerships established at the local level with the Justice Dialogue Platforms and NGOs, are supporting free legal advice to help people apply for identity documents, enrol their children in kindergartens and schools and seek employment,” noted Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

Galina is one of the first refugees accommodated in Soroca, where she was offered a temporary home, along with food, hygiene kits and medicines. With the help of the DACIA Youth Resource Center, which is a member of the Dialogue Platforms for Access to Justice, Galina obtained employment documents and was hired at a local garment factory. "I worked as an accountant for seven years. Now I have to earn a living and do something else. And time passes faster if you have a job and don't wait. My new colleagues helped me, explained and showed me what to do," said Galina.

Psycho-social counselling, in individual and group sessions, is also being provided, with counsellors conducting sessions in Ukrainian to ensure they are accessible to all. The regional platform also aims to employ refugees to take on the role of psycho-social support leads, and also as teachers, leading activities for children and young people coming from Ukraine.

With the support of Sweden and UNDP, more than 2,500 packages of hygiene and food products will also be offered.

The Dialogue Platforms for Access to Justice in Soroca, Criuleni, Cimișlia and Comrat were created within the Sweden-funded project "Strengthening efficiency and access to justice in Moldova", and implemented by UNDP Moldova, in partnership the Institute for Penal Reform.