OSCE Mission to Moldova trains lawyers on human rights issues

On 17-19 July 2015, the OSCE Mission to Moldova held a three-day training event for 21 lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River on representing the fundamental rights of potential clients before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The training was held at Vadul-lui-Vodă, a town on the bank of the river.

Participants were trained on mechanisms and standards of human rights protection, the material and procedural obligations of the state before the ECtHR, as well as legal representation before the Court. Participants also had the opportunity to file a mock complaint to the ECtHR based on hypothetical facts, simulate an ECtHR hearing and witness the delivery of a judgment.

“This event equipped me with first-hand knowledge of how the ECtHR operates while improving my understanding of key provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights,” said Alexei Balan, a lawyer at the Center for Support and Development of Civic Initiatives “Resonance” in Bender. “As a lawyer, it is very informative to learn about the procedures applied by international courts, and I am confident that this knowledge will have a positive impact on my legal practice.”

This event was held as part of a year-long OSCE project that facilitates the exchange of experiences and eventual partnership among lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.