Back Moldovan Equality Council staff trained to better structure and articulate arguments and draft motivation on discrimination cases

Moldovan Equality Council staff trained to better structure and articulate arguments and draft motivation on discrimination cases

The Council of Europe facilitated an online workshop to consolidate the Moldovan Equality Council staff capacity on constructing decisions for cases of discrimination. The workshop took place on 14 and 24 May 2021 and it consisted of structural tips, persuasion techniques and methodological advice, provided by the facilitator, following the examination of decisions issued by the Moldovan Equality Council in their case law.

“A sound and rigorous legal analysis of the facts, a body of reliable, accurate and consistent evidence, along with excellent knowledge of the relevant legal framework are at the basis of a solid decision in discrimination cases, one that is substantiated by case law and factual situations” mentioned the trainer, Frederique Ast, presenting the experience of the Rights Defender in France.

Elements of utmost importance in cases of discrimination, like the shift of the burden of proof, prima facie case, concrete examples of discriminatory harassment were presented to the audience. Participants also received extensive information and illustration of fine lines between types of discrimination in the recent European Court of Human Rights and European Union case law, advice on what strategies to adopt and what to avoid, based on the experience of their fellow colleagues in European equality bodies.

Head of the Administrative Body of the Moldovan Equality Council, Mrs Olga Bulmaga underlined that these trainings were extremely useful: “We, here at the Council, are already seeking ways to modify the motivation part of decisions, according to the valuable expertise that we received. Information about harassment was particularly helpful, taking into account the fact that we are dealing with an increased number of such cases”.

“A consistent workshop and a considerable contribution to the consolidation of our experience, for which we are extremely grateful, inspired and exhilarated” concluded the Head of the Department for combating discrimination, Mrs Carolina Bagrin.

This activity was organised as part of the assistance provided to the Equality Council, partner institution of the national project “Strengthening the capacities of the justice sector actors to deliver justice in line with European standards, in particular to fight discrimination in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II Programme.

Republic of Moldova 24 May 2021
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
Strasbourg, France Strasbourg, 1-2 July 2024
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
  • Imprimer en PDF
Addressing hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region

A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions.  The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives from both regions who discussed and exchanged on the best practices, measures and common challenges when addressing hate speech and hate crime. Through monitoring and reporting, policy advocacy, raising awareness and supporting victims equality bodies play a fundamental role in protecting human rights and ensuring that all individuals are treated equally.

In her opening remarks, Angela Longo, Head of Anti-discrimination Co-operation Unit, Council of Europe, underlined the significant progress in engaging with Equality Bodies through this network, regularly exchanging best practices and addressing the challenges of hatred and intolerance in societies. She highlighted that this new chapter of discussion delves into the grey area between hate speech and hate crime, addressing issues of incitement and biases,

Representatives from Equality Bodies had the opportunity to discuss and enhance their knowledge on the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers Recommendation to member States on combating hate crime, adopted on 7th May 2024, as well as gain a clearer understanding of EU standards in the field of hate crime. Moreover, participants engaged in exchanges with peers from the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), who shared insights on addressing hate speech in the public discourse. The National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR) in Italy provided practical examples for developing counter-narratives and raising awareness initiatives.

They also explored opportunities to advocate for legislative reform, foster multisectoral co-operation, enhance data collection, and overall improve national mechanisms to counter hate crimes.

This seminar was organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe  under the joint Programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

Follow us on social media