On May 9 to 15, in the capital of Republic of Moldova has started the Project on Cooperation of the Ombudsmen Offices of Republic of Poland, Moldova and Mediator of the French Republic entitled „Partnership for Human Rights”. This Project is carried out within the Partnership Programme for the EU Eastern Partnership Countries' Ombudsmen Cooperation 2009-2013, supported by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Previously, during 2009, at the College of Europe in Natolin the workshop on “Observance of human rights and freedoms in the countries included in the Eastern Partnership Programme” was held, which gathered the representatives of the Ombudsmen offices from Moldova, Poland and France. In this regard, the following areas of action were distinguished: the Ombudsman institution model, National Preventive Mechanism, assistance for persons who suffered damage from crime, Equal Treatment Mechanism and fight against poverty and social exclusion.

The Centre for Human Rights of Moldova (The National Ombudsman Institute of Moldova), in partnership with the Polish Human Rights Defender’s Office conducted a training seminar on May 10 to 14 for the representatives of the Ombudsman institution, the action of the first stage of the project. The seminar was attended by representatives of public authorities and non-governmental organizations, who participated actively in debates on the topics proposed in Agenda.

The main topics tackled within the five working days were some aspects of the legal framework and powers of the Polish Ombudsman, the Ombudsman Institute of Moldova and Mediator of the French Republic, the organization and functioning of National Preventive Mechanisms in Moldova and the Republic of Poland, assistance to persons suffering damage as a result of crimes, with presentation by the Polish experts of the legal documents related to the topics and the experience of the Polish Ombudsman as regards the assistance to persons who suffer damage as a result of crime.

Within the training session were made references to the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination, the legal standards of the European Union on the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination, the legal standards on the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination in Poland and Moldova. The topic of equal treatment, with an overview of the Polish Ombudsman's activity in preventing discrimination was eloquent. The training session was completed with a quite important topic for all participants - combating poverty and social exclusion in Poland and Moldova.

Of great importance were the visits to the Penitentiary Institution No.4 Cricova and the “Memoria” Medical Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture. As a follow up to the visits, the participants at the seminar held discussions on a wide range of issues on the activities carried out by the National Preventive Mechanisms, the differences between the penitentiary systems in Poland and Moldova, and the recovery measures.

The Training session’ assessment showed confidence that the Cooperation Programme, “Partnership for Human Rights” shall certainly contribute to the exchange of practices with a view to the  respect and protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms and shall result in a cooperation of the national ombudsmen institutions.

The second phase of the project will take place in November 2010 in the Republic of Poland with the participation of delegations of ombudsman institutions of Moldova and Georgia.

It should be mentioned that the basic objectives of these meetings consist in the submission of mandatory legislative solutions in the European Union and countries participating in the Ombudsmen Cooperation Programme for the EU Eastern Partnership, as well the exchange of experiences and practices used by the institutions of ombudsman and the representatives of other bodies, organizations engaged in the human rights issues.

The National Ombudsman Institution of Moldova expresses thanks to the Polish Ombudsman's Office staff Mr. Mirosław Wróblewski, Mr. Przemysław Kazimirski, Ms. Krystyna Kupczyńska, Ms. Magdalena Kuruś, Ms. Ewa Wrońska, Mr. Dariusz Supeł and Mr. Christian Le Roux, the director of the Mediator’s Office of the French Republic, for all the assistance and support granted within the training seminar.