On 17-18 May 2018 the conference “Marginalised People, Human Rights, and Development Ethics” was organised in Chisinau, Moldova, as a result of joint efforts between the International Development Ethics Association and the Moldova State University with support of the Council of Europe, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, US Embassy in Moldova, UN Office for Human Rights, UN Women, etc.

The event was a forum for the active dialogue and exchange of best practices on the timely and pressing issue of marginalisation and human rights in Moldova and Eastern Europe. Issues such as how to strengthen the capacity of local policy makers and civil society representatives to apply the tools of development ethics at all levels of policy and programming; or to bridge the gap between academics and practitioners in order to forge a productive and lasting conversation in the ethics of social inclusion and international development were addressed with active participation from all the attendees.

Topics like gender-based violence as cause and consequence of marginalisation, negotiating ethnic and cultural diversity in multicultural democracies, labour markets, opportunity and mobility, accommodating and empowering persons with disabilities were presented and discussed.

A separate session was dedicated to the Council for preventing and eliminating discrimination and ensuring equality from the Republic of Moldova (Equality Council). Mr Ian Feldman, the President of the Equality Council and Mr Andrei Brighidin, member of the Equality Council presented the activity, successes and challenges of the institution.

The activity was co-funded within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe project "Supporting national efforts for prevention and combating discrimination in Moldova" which is part of the Partnership for Good Governance programme.