Anti-Racism Commission urges Moldova to take action against hate speech against Roma
- 15 November, 08:16
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRU, has urged Chisinau to address prejudice against Roma, despite praising Moldova’s overall efforts to address hate speech and hate crimes.
The ECRU noted that the Roma minorities continue to suffer from inter-related problems of poverty, discrimination, and stigmatization in Moldova. The commission recommended the Moldovan authorities to significantly increase the number of community mediators, develop a suitable policy for their recruitment and retention and ensure they are provided with adequate working conditions.
The ECRI noted that public figures, including politicians, rarely denounce hate speech quickly and openly. Additionally, hate crimes are often underreported, and the enforcement of criminal laws to address these situations remains inadequate. Thus, ECRI advised authorities to implement proactive measures to educate the general public about the legal framework concerning hate speech and the support available for victims. Moreover, further steps should be taken to ensure that all reported hate crime incidents are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, the commission noted. This should involve considering potential bias motivations right from the beginning of the investigation and throughout any following legal processes, it added.
Furthermore, the ECRU urged Chisinau to properly fund and implement the 2022-2025 Program for the Support of the Roma Population. The commission also advised that the Equality Council and the Ombudsman receive the necessary funding for carrying out their mandate properly.
Elsewhere, the ECRU stated that Chisinau had taken some positive steps, noting that national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation and gender identity were added to the open-ended list of protected grounds in the Equality Act, since 2018.
