OSCE Mission to Moldova concludes Human Rights Club meetings for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River

On 11 December 2015, the OSCE Mission to Moldova hosted in Chisinau this year’s concluding meeting of the Human Rights Club for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. More than 30 lawyers participated in the event and discussed the challenges they encounter when representing clients.

Participants identified key obstacles when asserting their clients’ rights and discussed ways to enhance co-operation between lawyers and to raise public awareness of available legal assistance on both banks. Following the meeting, participants who attended two or more meetings of the Human Rights Club received certificates of completion recognized by the Moldovan Bar Association.

Previous meetings of the Human Rights Club in 2015 have focused on a wide range of topics, including assisting former detainees as they re-integrate into society, handling divorce cases and approaches to safeguarding children’s rights on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. A total of four meetings of the Human Rights Club were held in 2015, including two in Chisinau and two in Tiraspol.

The Human Rights Club was established by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in 2013 in co-operation with the Norwegian Mission for Rule of Law Advisers to Moldova (NORLAM), and aimed to improve lawyers’ skills in order to make a difference in the daily lives of people in the region. Legal professionals involved in the programme will continue to share their experiences and expertise in 2016.