Tiraspol, 5 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The visit of the senior UN expert continued from May 28 to June 1. Thomas Hammarberg has issued a statement which, among other things, said that with he would inform the United Nations high commissioner for human rights about the results of his inspection.
At the same time, Thomas Hammarberg recalled that back in 2013 he had given 38 recommendations in 13 different spheres to the authorities of our country, and the current trip had a goal to monitor their implementation. The statement also indicates that Pridnestrovie has made a big step forward in the field of human rights protection.
"In a few key areas, such as the rights of people with disabilities, the prevention and treatment of HIV and tuberculosis, the overall situation has improved," said the expert. There are noticeable changes in terms of perceiving the limitations of opportunities and recognizing the rights of people with disabilities. The development of an active civil society platform for people with disabilities, as well as successful initiatives to facilitate access to public buildings and venues, are among the landmarks to strive for next. "
Speaking about tuberculosis and HIV infection, Thomas Hammarberg drew attention to the obvious progress with the detection and treatment of these diseases in places of confinement. "Plans to enhance medical centres at a specialized penitentiary institution offer a unique opportunity to improve medical care for detainees in general," the UN expert noted in this regard.
Another problem that Thomas Hammarberg drew attention to in his statement was family violence. There is progress in this field as well, he said.
"The opening of a temporary crisis centre and a shelter for victims of domestic violence, as well as the construction of a permanent facility to raise hopes for further progress in the field of the prevention and control of domestic violence," the statement says.
In addition, he noted the activity of civil society in our country, thanks to which "the level of awareness and quality of public dialogue increased significantly on many unresolved issues in the field of human rights."
Thomas Hammarberg also mentioned the negotiation process between Tiraspol and Chisinau, noting that at the end of 2017, the parties had signed a few agreements to resolve some of the issues outlined in his 2013 report. This includes the process of apostille verification of Pridnestrovian university diplomas, as well as the resolution of a problem with Moldova's Romanian-language schools functioning in the PMR.
"More attention should be paid to the human rights aspect in the process of conflict resolution. All these achievements should be welcomed, but further improvements are needed to address some of the problems and unresolved issues that I will present in my subsequent report," the statement says.
What Thomas Hammarberg recommended to do and reflected in his statement is that Pridnestrovie should develop an action plan in the field of human rights, enhance the relevant mechanisms and institutions, collect disembodied data and organise training in this area.
It is also recommended to pay attention to the problems of Roma (Gypsies), to reduce the number of detentions and arrests for minor offences and crimes, and to continue preventing domestic violence and to strengthen the interaction of the state with non-governmental organizations.
