Addressing security needs of Jewish communities in Moldova focus of OSCE/ODIHR

The security needs of Jewish communities were the focus of an awareness raising event held in Chisinau on 15 May 2019. It was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Jewish Community of Moldova.

Attended by more than 50 law-enforcement officials and Jewish community representatives, the event was an opportunity to discuss the extent of anti-Semitism in Moldova. The participants exchanged views on how anti-semitism is manifested and methods to strengthen co-operation between local law enforcement bodies and Jewish communities to combat the phenomenon more effectively.

“The Mission commends the Moldovan authorities for their efforts to build an inclusive and tolerant society. Inclusivity is an important precondition for advancing the Transdniestrian settlement process,” said Claus Neukirch, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. 

"Ultimately, governments are responsible for making sure that Jewish communities are safe. Today’s event is an opportunity to discuss how government officials and law enforcement can confront the specific challenges posed by anti-Semitism, in close co-operation with local communities," said Project Manager at ODIHR Ilan Cohn.

To help Moldova in turning its OSCE commitments on combating anti-Semitism into action, the OSCE Mission to Moldova has followed a comprehensive approach that includes awareness raising, training for justice sector professionals, and improvements to the legal framework. Mainstreaming tolerance and inclusiveness in school education also plays an important role. Building on its previous efforts, the Mission will conduct a series of training workshops this year for law enforcement officials on the investigation of bias-motivated crimes.

The workshop was organized as part of ODIHR’s Words into Action to Address Anti-Semitism project. The event was an opportunity to discuss the implementation of ODIHR's practical guide Understanding Anti-Semitic Hate Crime and Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities.