OSCE-supported Human Rights Club for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River holds concluding meeting in Chisinau

CHISINAU, 28 November 2014 – The OSCE Mission to Moldova today in Chisinau hosted the concluding meeting of this year of the Human Rights Club for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. This was the last in a series of six meetings held in 2014 out of which three meetings were held in Chisinau and three in Tiraspol.

This meeting gathered more than fifty lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, and discussed issues related to the documentation of the population, current problems and the mechanisms to solve these issues on both banks. They also discussed how the legal community on both banks could co-operate to provide necessary legal assistance and raise public awareness at the same time.

Previous discussions have focused on the assessment of property within civil and criminal cases, the rights of women and gender equality, co-operation between lawyers and journalists in promoting and protecting human rights, increasing efforts to combating torture and guardianship of children on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.

“We are delighted by the high level of interest and enthusiasm for this initiative demonstrated by legal professionals from both banks and their  openness to share and compare their experience on practical legal matters and to learn from each other,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Michael Scanlan. “This is a very encouraging sign, and we are pleased to be able to create the opportunity for such exchanges.”

The Human Rights Club is a discussion forum for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, established by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in 2013, in co-operation with the Norwegian Mission for Rule of Law Advisers to Moldova (NORLAM), for legal professionals to share experience and practice. 

This event is part of a year-long project which facilitates, through its different activities, to build relations between  local legal professionals from both banks on practical legal matters, and supporting the development of civil society from Transdniestria.

At the conclusion of today’s meeting, participants who have attended four meetings received certificates of completion recognized by the Moldovan Bar Association.