The institution of Parliamentary Advocates – Center for Human Rights of Moldova (CHRM) is an institution similar to the European and international institutes of Ombudsman that operates since April 1998 under the Law on Parliamentary Advocates no.1349-XIII of 17 October 1997 as an important non-judicial mechanism of protecting human rights in the Republic of Moldova.
      
      The Center for Human Rights of Moldova consists of 4 parliamentary advocates who are equal in rights. One of them is specialized in issues of child rights protection (Children’s Advocate), with the status of civil servant, who provides parliamentary advocates with organizational, information, scientific-analytical, economic-financial assistance, as well as three Branches in: Balti, Cahul and Comrat (the Territorial-Autonomous Unit “Gagauz-Yeri”), acting as territorial subdivisions of the institution.
     
      With the signing and ratification by the Republic of Moldova of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, in force since 24 July 2006, which stipulates the establishment of independent mechanisms for preventing torture at national level, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates was vested with this mission. A Consultative Board was created in order to provide assistance in the fulfillment of duties of parliamentary advocates as a national torture prevention mechanism that refers to performing preventive visits in places where people deprived of freedom are or can be.
      
      Created as an independent public authority to guarantee the enforcement of fundamental human rights and freedoms by central and local public authorities, institutions, organizations and enterprises, irrespective of their form of property, the community-based associations and people with positions of influence at all levels, the Institution of Parliamentary Advocates is the authority that favors the balance between public authorities and the society, contributes to the protection of human rights by preventing the violation of these and restoring the rights, to the improvement of the legislation in the field and to the legal education of the population, applying the methods set out in the current legislation.