Human Rights Committee

145th session

Summary record of the 4272nd meeting*

Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Monday, 9 March 2026, at 3 p.m.

Chair:Mr. Soh

Contents

Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the Covenant (continued)

Fourth periodic report of the Republic of Moldova

The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m.

Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 40 of the Covenant (continued)

Fourth periodic report of the Republic of Moldova (CCPR/C/MDA/4; CCPR/C/MDA/QPR/4)

At the invitation of the Chair, the delegation of the Republic of Moldova joined the meeting.

The Chair, welcoming the delegation of the Republic of Moldova to the meeting, explained that some members of the delegation would be participating via video link.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova, introducing his country’s fourth periodic report (CCPR/C/MDA/4), said that since the submission of the report, his country had continued to pursue comprehensive and systemic reforms aimed at consolidating the rule of law, reinforcing democratic institutions and ensuring the effective enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Covenant. Those reforms had been shaped by the process of accession to the European Union, which required demonstrable progress in judicial reform, the fight against corruption and the effective protection of fundamental rights.

Judicial reform efforts had included an external evaluation process focusing on the integrity and ethical standards of judges and prosecutors, as part of which the members of the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors had undergone preliminary vetting. The role of the Supreme Court of Justice had been redefined, with a renewed focus on the consistent application of the law by lower courts. An anti-corruption chamber had been established within the Chisinau District Court and anti-corruption panels had been set up within the Chisinau Court of Appeal, to promote enhanced expertise, coherent case law and the timely examination of complex corruption cases.

Legislative amendments adopted in 2025 had reinforced mechanisms for combating electoral corruption and strengthened the framework governing the confiscation of criminally derived assets. Law No. 4/2026, on the use of confiscated assets for social or public interest purposes, had established a framework for redirecting resources derived from illicit activities for the benefit of society, including through the funding of education, healthcare and community development initiatives, while strengthening public trust in the justice system and the effectiveness of asset recovery mechanisms.

The legal framework governing the National Integrity Authority had been consolidated through amendments enhancing the Authority’s institutional independence, investigative capacity and organizational structure. The relevant information system was being updated to enable automated risk-based analysis of asset and interest declarations, random distribution of cases to integrity inspectors and interoperability with State registers, thereby increasing transparency and reducing undue discretion.

In order to align national legislation with recent European Union directives on equality bodies, a bill that would strengthen the mandate and operational autonomy of the Equality Council was being drawn up. The Ministry of Justice had drafted amendments to Law No. 52 on the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) to further consolidate the independence, autonomy and effectiveness of the People’s Advocate Office and ensure that it had the necessary means to exercise its mandate fully and in accordance with international standards.

Significant progress had been achieved in strengthening freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. Legislation adopted in 2025 had enhanced safeguards against obstruction, intimidation and violence targeting journalists by establishing clearer offences and more severe sanctions. The Audiovisual Media Services Code had been revised to increase the transparency of media ownership and advertising, counter disinformation, protect minors and address hate speech. A new comprehensive law on mass media and an inter-institutional action plan for 2026–2027 were being developed to further enhance journalist safety, coordination among authorities and protection against undue interference. In addition, new legislation on the organization and conduct of public events had been adopted in response to the growing number, diversity and complexity of such events. It established a more comprehensive procedural framework for managing risks associated with large-scale events while ensuring the effective protection of the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.

Important reforms had been undertaken in the field of civil status and citizenship. New formats of civil status documents had been introduced to enable secure digital issuance. Since November 2025, interoperability between the civil status information system and the medical certification system had ensured the automatic registration of births occurring in medical institutions. A new law on citizenship, LawNo. 253/2025, regulated the acquisition of citizenship by birth, including through specific provisions designed to prevent statelessness.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Republic of Moldova had received over 674,000 refugees from Ukraine and more than 76,000 third-country nationals since the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, of whom over 102,000 had chosen to remain in the country. Per capita, that represented one of the highest numbers of refugees hosted in Europe. National and local authorities, together with civil society, had stepped up to provide accommodation, healthcare, education, social protection and access to the labour market, in line with the principles of international protection and human dignity.

The Labour Code had been amended in 2025 to implement the International Labour Organization Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). In addition, Law No. 200/2025 transposed several European Union normative acts, ensuring equal treatment and non-discriminatory access to the labour market for European Union citizens and their family members.

The Government had introduced comprehensive legislative and institutional measures to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. It had adopted new legislation that defined femicide and addressed various forms of psychological violence; established the criminal offences of forced marriage and stalking, including digital stalking; extended the definition of domestic violence to encompass economic and digital forms; strengthened sanctions for sexual harassment; and enhanced victim protection by establishing mechanisms for blocking abusive online content, extending the length of protection measures and prioritizing domestic violence cases for urgent prosecution and trial.

In January 2026, the first national information platform dedicated to the prevention of digital violence against women and girls had been launched. The platform provided assistance in cases of technology-facilitated violence, including online harassment, blackmail, cyberstalking and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. A digital register of offenders in cases of violence against women and domestic violence was being developed, and the “VioData” register had been established as the first unified digital mechanism for the collection, registration and analysis of disaggregated data on violence against women and domestic violence.

The Government was implementing two dedicated strategic programmes for the period 2023–2027 to foster equal opportunities, promote gender-sensitive policymaking and eliminate structural inequalities: a national programme for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and a programme for the promotion of gender equality.

The legal framework on the prevention and combating of sexual exploitation and abuse of minors had been amended in 2026 to transpose the relevant European Union directive fully. The amendments increased sanctions for offences involving child sexual abuse material, coercion and exploitation, particularly where the perpetrator held a position of authority or trust, and strengthened safeguards for minor victims by ensuring faster access to legal assistance, enhancing confidentiality and expanding support measures.

Mr. Helfer said that he would welcome information on the practical implementation of the State Party’s human rights initiatives and on the functioning of its human rights institutions. In particular, he wished to know how the National Council for Human Rights monitored human rights obligations and how its activities related to the work of the Minister of Justice as coordinator for the domestic application of the Covenant; which institution was responsible for collecting human rights data; whether reports by ministries and public authorities under the National Programme on Ensuring Respect for Human Rights for 2024–2027 were made public and how they were reviewed; and whether the State Party planned to renew the Programme after 2027.

An update on the status of the draft law on the Constitutional Court would be useful, including information on how the State Party planned to address potential overlap with the Code of Constitutional Jurisdiction and Law No. 317/1994 on the Constitutional Court. Clarification would also be appreciated regarding how the planned review by the State Chancellery of the legal framework on transparency and public consultations would improve parliamentary transparency and incorporate minority voices. Information on whether any court decisions issued during the reporting period had cited the Covenant or the Committee’s Views under the first Optional Protocol to the Covenant would also be welcome.

He welcomed the measures adopted to uphold Covenant rights for individuals in Transnistria, notwithstanding the State Party’s lack of effective control over the region. In that regard, he wished to know what specific measures were being taken to ensure the effective implementation in Transnistria of the National Programme on Ensuring Respect for Human Rights and whether meaningful civil society participation was ensured. Information on any discussions held with the de facto authorities on rights-related issues would be welcome. It would also be interesting to learn about measures taken to address barriers to access to documentation, certification and legal recognition for Moldovan citizens residing in Transnistria, including through online civil status services.

The Committee had received reports that incompatibilities between civil status regulations in the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria could lead to disparities in the availability of social benefits – for example, for pensioners in Transnistria with Moldovan identity documents attempting to access health insurance. With that in mind, information on whether the State Party would consider alternative means of verifying the eligibility for benefits of residents of Transnistria would be welcome. He also wished to know what measures were being taken to ensure effective access to judicial remedies for residents of Transnistria and to eliminate linguistic barriers to access to justice.

It would be useful to receive information on formal protections for human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Transnistria and, in the light of reports of severe restrictions imposed on journalists by the de facto authorities, on measures to promote journalistic freedom. Clarification would also be welcome regarding steps taken to address restrictions on freedom of conscience and religion in the region, including the use of registration procedures to obstruct religious groups, the designation of certain religious materials as extremist and the conscription of persons seeking conscientious objector status.

Mr. Yigezu said that he wished to know how shortcomings identified in the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan for the period 2018–2022 – including insufficient financial resources, a lack of political will to amend laws or ratify international instruments and the absence of effective monitoring mechanisms and indicators – had informed the development of the National Programme on Ensuring Respect for Human Rights 2024–2027. Information on progress in implementing the new Programme, with concrete examples in the field of civil and political rights, and on the mechanisms in place for coordination, monitoring and implementation would be welcome.

In the light of reports that the People’s Advocate Office and the Equality Council were experiencing high staff turnover and significant vacancies and that neither institution enjoyed full financial independence, he would welcome information on steps taken to strengthen their independence and effectiveness, in particular through adequate staff remuneration. He would appreciate clarification regarding steps to strengthen the mandate of the Equality Council, including by enabling it to refer cases to the Constitutional Court, receive information on discrimination cases before courts and submit opinions. He also wished to know how the State Party intended to clarify the institutional link between the People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child and the People’s Advocate Office to strengthen coherence, operational efficiency and resource allocation. Information on measures to increase the visibility of the People’s Advocate for the Rights of the Child among children and marginalized groups would also be appreciated.

He wished to know what measures had been taken to eliminate discriminatory practices and hate speech and to combat prejudice against Roma, minority religious and racial groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons, including through explicit regulation of legal gender recognition and clear guidelines for gender-affirming healthcare. He would also welcome information on measures to address stigma and discrimination affecting persons with disabilities, using an intersectional approach; measures to create equal opportunities for Roma, including Roma women, in civic and political life; and efforts to raise awareness of the country’s diversity and address discrimination and hate speech in the media, including social media.

He wondered what steps the State Party planned to take to address the root causes of hate speech and intolerance, protect people from all forms of violence and discrimination, including within State institutions, and encourage the reporting of hate crimes, as well as to promote the investigation of reported cases, the prosecution of perpetrators, the imposition of commensurate sanctions and the provision of effective reparation to victims. Lastly, in the light of reports of violence against women in politics involving hate speech, sexist speech and smear campaigns during elections, he would welcome information on measures to prevent such conduct in politics and in the media, including social media.

Mr. Šimonović said that he would be grateful for an indication of the number of convictions in high-level corruption cases over the reporting period, the sentences imposed and the average trial duration. He would also welcome information on progress made in resolving major corruption scandals, including the “$1 billion bank fraud” case, and specific examples of cases involving political corruption and illicit party financing. He wished to know how many whistle-blower complaints had been filed since the adoption of Law No. 166/2023 and how many had resulted in protective measures or remedies. Information on safeguards to ensure transparency and independent oversight of public procurement processes would also be welcome.

It would be useful to learn how the new anti-corruption legislation provided for stricter vetting and integrity screening of judges handling corruption cases; whether judges and prosecutors working on such cases received higher remuneration or other safeguards to protect their independence; whether any proposals were under discussion to further strengthen anti-corruption and organized crime prosecution services; and what safeguards existed to ensure that the vetting process and restructuring of anti-corruption bodies did not create risks of political selectivity or pressure on judicial independence.

While institutional steps had been taken to address violence in prisons, concerns remained regarding underreporting, the adequacy of sanctions imposed, and structural deficiencies in medical care. It would therefore be useful to learn how many cases of torture in prisons had resulted in final convictions over the reporting period and how many had involved effective custodial sentences; whether any senior officials at the supervisory level had been held responsible; how many victims had received compensation and rehabilitation; how complainants were protected from reprisals; and what steps were being taken to ensure the institutional independence of prison health services.

Ms. Leinarte said that, while much progress had been made in promoting women’s participation in the parliament, gender inequality persisted at the leadership level. She wondered how gender parity and strong women’s representation in public affairs could be secured as a lasting political tradition, rather than solely through mandatory quotas. As women’s participation in law enforcement and security agencies also remained low, she wondered whether the State Party had considered applying temporary special measures in those sectors to achieve gender balance. She would also welcome clarification regarding measures to help balance gender roles in family life and to ensure the availability of affordable childcare.

She wished to know whether there was currently any public debate on amending the legal definition of rape in line with a consent-based approach. It would be useful to know whether NGOs had been involved in implementing the National Programme for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence 2023–2027, whether adequate human and financial resources had been allocated and what the initial results had been. She also wished to know what obstacles were hindering efforts to combat violence against women and domestic violence, in the light of reports of widespread underreporting, uneven quality of investigations, inconsistent sanctions and reliance on NGOs for the provision of services to victims.

Mr. Korkelia said that he would welcome an explanation of the legal framework for public emergencies, including information about the decision-making procedures and criteria used by the Commission for Exceptional Situations. He also wished to learn about the legal basis, criteria and procedural framework for suspending court proceedings during a state of emergency and how compliance with fair trial guarantees was ensured in that context. He would also appreciate further clarification on the legal basis for suspending media licences during a state of emergency, the criteria and safeguards applied, the procedures for assessing whether a media outlet was disseminating false information and the measures taken to ensure necessity, proportionality and appropriate oversight.

He would welcome information on the timeline for adopting the draft national programme on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as on any measures taken to introduce compulsory, age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health at all levels, to ensure such education was inclusive, evidence-based and accessible to girls and adolescents in rural areas, those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, and to ensure free, informed, confidential and non-discriminatory access to a range of contraceptive methods. Updated disaggregated data on access to affordable and modern contraceptives, including geographic coverage, utilization rates and trends, would also be appreciated.

In the light of reports that sex workers and women who used drugs continued to experience stigma, discrimination, breaches of confidentiality and inadequate treatment when accessing sexual and reproductive health services and justice, he would be grateful for clarification on concrete measures taken to ensure confidential, non-discriminatory and adequate treatment for those groups, including the provision of State-guaranteed legal aid.

The meeting was suspended at 4.05 p.m. and resumed at 4.25 p.m.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the national system for oversight of the application of international instruments was led by the National Council for Human Rights, which convened once or twice a year and was supported by the Permanent Secretariat on Human Rights within the State Chancellery. Oversight of compliance with specific instruments was allocated to the relevant ministries by subject matter. The Covenant fell under the Ministry of Justice, which oversaw the implementation of four international legal instruments through a dedicated commission comprising representatives of all relevant ministers and agencies. Data relating to the implementation of human rights instruments were collected by the relevant agencies and ministries and submitted to the appropriate coordinating body during the preparation of reports.

The Committee’s Views and general comments had been cited by both the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice. Regarding the Constitutional Court’s legal framework, two instruments had been in force until 2025: the Law on the Constitutional Court and the Code on Constitutional Jurisdiction. In 2025, they had been merged into the unified Law on the Constitutional Court, with procedural matters left to the Court’s own rules of procedure. That approach, which enhanced the Court’s regulatory autonomy, reflected recommendations made by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) during consultations on the draft unified law prior to its adoption.

Regarding Transnistria, the constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova did not exercise full administrative or constitutional control over the left bank of the Dniester River. Responsibilities had nonetheless been distributed among the ministries and agencies of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to address the needs of the population in that region. Residents in the region held Moldovan citizenship, received identity documents and passports from the constitutional authorities and benefited from the same guarantees as other citizens.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the functional communication format between the two banks of the Dniester River was the “one-plus-one” format, with the most recent meeting held on 26 February 2026. That meeting, the first between chief negotiators following the recent parliamentary elections and change of government in the Republic of Moldova, had resulted in agreement on next steps, including a further “one-plus-one” meeting in the coming months and the reactivation of sectoral working groups.

Statistics for 2025 showed that over 10,000 individuals from Transnistria had received social payments financed through the State budget, a 200% increase from approximately 3,200 beneficiaries in 2004, with the trend continuing upward. Approximately 74,500 citizens were registered in national medical insurance databases, of whom over 61,000 were insured by the State, with children and others covered under separate arrangements.

Freedom of expression in Transnistria remained a serious concern. Journalists from the rest of the Republic of Moldova continued to face inadequate access to Transnistria, an issue regularly raised with the de facto authorities. A recent positive development was an agreement to broadcast Moldovan television channels in the region. Concerns also remained regarding the security of human rights defenders and access for human rights NGOs, although efforts to secure the release of persons unlawfully detained for political reasons had yielded significant results towards the end of 2025. Those concerns would continue to be raised through all available channels.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the possibility of granting the Equality Council the right to refer cases to the Constitutional Court had not been considered, as no established legislative practice existed for granting equality bodies such a right, nor was such a mechanism necessary: the Council already had competence to propose legislative amendments directly to the Government, without the intervention of the Constitutional Court. Progress had been made in increasing staff positions at the Equality Council, though salary levels remained low. That issue was to be addressed through a broader public administration reform, which aimed to ensure adequate remuneration across independent institutions.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the Ministry of Justice was working with equality and non-discrimination experts to prepare a draft law aimed at strengthening the mandate, operational autonomy and institutional capacity of the Equality Council and ensuring the complete transposition into national law of key European Union standards concerning equality bodies and other discrimination-related matters. The draft law provided for measures such as the expansion of the list of protected characteristics, the regulation of intersectional discrimination, the strengthening of services providing assistance and information to victims of discrimination and the establishment of mechanisms to follow up on the advisory opinions issued by the Council and allow for the settlement of discrimination-related disputes through mediation. It also set out measures to ensure consistency in the handling of conflicts of interest involving Council members. The steps taken to ensure that the Council would be allocated adequate resources to fulfil its duties included the incorporation into the draft law of explicit guarantees concerning the Council’s ability to independently administer the funds it received from the Government and provisions setting out the Council’s right to notify the parliament whenever it had insufficient human, technical or financial resources. Financial audits of the Council would be conducted solely by the Court of Accounts, which was an independent public authority. Three additional staff positions would be created within the Council, the occupants of which would be responsible for ensuring the protection of workers’ rights in the context of freedom of movement following the country’s accession to the European Union. Work had begun to amend the law on the People’s Advocate Office with a view to guaranteeing that the institution could discharge its mandate fully, independently, efficiently and in a manner consistent with international standards.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the financial and ethical integrity of prosecutors and judges was vetted by two bodies made up of national and international experts, who were selected by parliamentarians belonging to the majority and opposition parties. The Government had no influence over the activities of those bodies. Their assessment of each prosecutor or judge was documented in a report that was submitted to the Superior Council of Magistracy or the Superior Council of Prosecutors for a final decision to be made. Under national law, any prosecutor or judge who successfully completed the process was entitled to a pay increase.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that youth-friendly health centres offered specialized sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people, which included guidance on contraception and responsible sexual behaviour, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and psychosocial support. Such health centres also ran mobile clinics to ensure that young people in rural areas or difficult social situations could use their services. A new national programme on sexual and reproductive health rights was being developed to guarantee universal access to quality health education and family planning services without discrimination.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the prison service was currently focused on dismantling the informal power structures that fuelled violence within prisons. Measures to achieve that objective had been integrated into the 2024–2027 action plan aimed at addressing prison subcultures and bringing facilities into line with European standards. In 2024, a pilot programme, under which individuals who formed part of a prison subculture had been separated from other inmates, had been run. A tool for assessing the safety risk posed by each prisoner had been developed to help prevent the concentration of power among criminal leaders. The Government continued to work towards the introduction of a more progressive system for the enforcement of sentences. The support required to overcome the barriers preventing its implementation would be provided by a team of experts put together by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation.

More than 460 incidents involving the use of physical force against detainees and almost 650 injuries had been reported through the new electronic system for reporting cases of ill-treatment in prisons, details of which were set out in paragraph 81 of his country’s report. All injuries sustained by detainees must be photographed so that the images could be uploaded to a digital system used by independent investigators. Medical examinations were generally conducted without the presence of prison security personnel to ensure that detainees felt able to report the cause of any injuries. A working group had been established to develop the legal and operational framework required for the gradual transfer of responsibility for prison health services to the Ministry of Health. Steps were being taken to ensure that all prison medical facilities met the same standards as the healthcare facilities used by the general population. There were plans to integrate prison medical facilities into the national health insurance system, thereby facilitating detainees’ access to medication included on the national list of medicines covered under that system. A new code of ethics for prison medical staff was intended to guarantee that medical decisions were based strictly on patients’ health needs and were made without interference from prison management. A new digital system for managing detainees’ medical records that was compatible with the system used by the Ministry of Health was being implemented to help ensure continuity of treatment in the event of a detainee’s transfer or release.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that states of emergency had previously been regulated by Law No. 212/2004 on states of emergency, siege and war, which had been repealed as a result of the adoption of Law No. 248/2025 on crisis management. The latter provided for the establishment of a new national crisis management body to replace the Commission for Exceptional Situations, whose mandate and powers had been regulated by Law No. 12/2004. In recent years, states of emergency had been declared in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the war in Ukraine and national and regional energy crises. The decision to declare a state of emergency in early March 2026 had been taken to protect the population from a potential increase in oil prices following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that a draft law designed to increase the participation of vulnerable groups in decision-making processes was currently under examination. The draft law explicitly mentioned the groups concerned, who included young people, women, people living in rural areas and members of minority groups. It also provided for a new mechanism through which individuals could directly submit proposals for consideration by the competent authorities. Any individual who lacked access to the equipment they needed or did not have sufficient digital skills to participate in that process could obtain assistance at public service centres, libraries and town halls.

The Government had adopted a number of regulations and programmes to support the delivery of free childcare services for children under 3 years old and expand the range of childcare options available. Since 2023, more than 700 new places had been created in public kindergartens. Steps taken to tackle gender stereotypes included the organization of awareness-raising campaigns and educational initiatives aimed at promoting non-traditional career choices for men and women and encouraging men to take on an equal share of parental and household responsibilities. Men could join groups known as “fathers’ clubs”, which granted them access to the resources and support they needed to play an active role in their children’s upbringing and education. In recent years, a policy had been introduced to encourage men to take paternity leave.

Many victims of domestic violence chose not to report the abuse owing to fear, financial dependence on the perpetrator and the perception that such violence was a private matter. The Government had sought to address that issue by establishing a free national helpline for victims, which was funded through the State budget. Data showed that the number of victims using the helpline had risen steadily between 2020 and 2025, reflecting the increased visibility of the service and the growing trust therein. New regulations designed to guarantee the quality and non-discriminatory delivery of social services had been implemented in 2025. Policies aimed at preventing and combating domestic violence and supporting the rehabilitation of victims of crime were being implemented by local authorities across the country, many of which had created specialist positions for staff with expertise in handling such violence. Those measures had increased the authorities’ capacity to detect and register cases of domestic violence, as demonstrated by the rise in the number of cases identified from around 4,000 in 2024 to approximately 10,000 in 2025.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that, in 2025, more than 110,000 individuals had participated in activities organized by the police to raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence. The police had also run 22 information campaigns on the prevention of such violence. One of the objectives of the Police Family Justice Centre, which had been established in 2023, was to simplify the process through which victims of sexual and domestic violence could obtain assistance.

Mr. Helfer said that he would be grateful for specific examples of cases in which the Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court of Justice had cited the Covenant or the Committee’s general comments or Views. It would be interesting to learn whether the State Party had plans to renew the National Programme on Ensuring Respect for Human Rights 2024–2027. Further information on the recent release of journalists and human rights defenders who had been involved in activities relating to the situation in Transnistria would be appreciated, as would a reply to his question on the State Chancellery’s review of the legal framework on transparency and public consultations.

Mr. Korkelia said that he would welcome a response to his earlier questions on access to healthcare and justice for sex workers and women who used drugs, the time frame for the adoption of the new national programme on sexual and reproductive health rights, the suspension of media licences during the state of emergency and the measures taken to ensure that any restrictions imposed during such situations were necessary, proportionate and subject to oversight.

Ms. Leinarte said that she wished to know what the State Party was doing to address the fact that cases of psychological or financial abuse against women often went unreported or unpunished owing to the absence of physical injuries that could be presented as evidence.

Mr. Carazo said that it would be helpful if the delegation could clarify the differences in the roles played by the Equality Council and the People’s Advocate Office and provide further information on the initiatives designed to enhance civic participation.

Mr. Šimonović said that, with regard to the “$1 billion bank fraud” case, he would like to know whether any convictions had been handed down and what proportion of the funds stolen had been recovered.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the new national programme on sexual and reproductive health rights should be adopted later in 2026. The People’s Advocate Office was the country’s designated national human rights institution and was responsible for monitoring the Government’s implementation of human rights-related legislation. The key role of the Equality Council was to receive complaints of discrimination and determine whether they were well-founded. The decisions issued by the Council were binding but could be appealed before the courts. It was expected that the National Programme on Ensuring Respect for Human Rights 2024–2027 would be renewed following an evaluation of its implementation.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that recent amendments to the Criminal Code provided for the explicit recognition of non-physical forms of domestic violence. Pursuant to those amendments, any act that was committed by an individual against a family member and that led to the family member’s intimidation or isolation or caused harm to his or her health was considered a criminal offence. The amendments also provided for the criminalization of any individual who sought to subject his or her victim to psychological suffering by depriving him or her of access to financial resources or basic means of subsistence, taking control of his or her assets or withdrawing funds from his or her bank account without permission. The perpetrators in such cases would be sentenced to unpaid community service or up to 4 years’ imprisonment.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the authorities responsible for detecting cases of domestic violence used risk assessment tools that included components designed to identify the existence of financial abuse. Data collected by those authorities showed that victims of financial abuse frequently reported having been subjected to multiple forms of violence. Victims could make use of a wide range of support services, including counselling, sheltered accommodation, social assistance and economic empowerment programmes aimed at reducing their financial dependency on the perpetrator.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the Government recognized the need to ensure that victims of domestic violence, including those who used drugs, could obtain access to support services without facing discrimination. Accordingly, the regulations governing the social rehabilitation service for victims of domestic violence explicitly stated that support could not be denied to drug users. They also provided for the establishment of support systems tailored to the specific needs of persons with multiple vulnerabilities. Shelters for victims of domestic violence had been made accessible for persons with disabilities and older persons.

A representative of the Republic of Moldova said that the draft law on increasing the participation of vulnerable groups in decision-making processes would require the authorities to identify and consult any groups that might be affected by a decision, before the adoption of that decision. If the draft law was adopted, guidelines would be drawn up to ensure its proper implementation across all communities.

The meeting rose at 6 p.m.