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.
