In 2016, the People’s Advocate Office examined about 30 cases of irregularities concerning human rights about which it learned from the press. The issue was discussed by Ombudsman Mihail Cotorobai in an informal meeting with journalists, IPN reports.

Among the most important actions and attitudes were the ombudsman’s reaction to the case of Bashtovoi, where they warned about the situation created in the emergency medicine system, and the reaction to the drafting of the so-called bill Big Brother, concerning control over the use of the Internet and correspondence. As a result of the recommendations formulated by the ombudsman, this bill was submitted to European institutions for appraisal.

The ombudsman also reacted to the press reports about the placement of obstacles to the participation by persons from the country’s districts in the protests mounted by the Platform “Dignity and Truth”, to the assumption of responsibility by the Government for the package of laws on the banking system and to the illegalities committed in the presidential runoff, related to the failure to ensure the constitutional right to vote for the Moldovans who are abroad.

Speaking about the human rights situation in 2016, Mihail Cotorobai reasserted the major concerns about the respect for the access to justice, the rights to social protection, decent living and health protection, water and sanitation, poor detention conditions and observance of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Among the top priorities of the People’s Advocate Office next year will be to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, to combat torture and inhuman treatment, to promote the children’s rights and the right to health protection. A new direction in the work of the ombudsman will be to prevent corruption by the available tools, including by promotion and anticorruption activities and by publishing and distributing informative materials on the issue.

Mihail Cotorobai handed over diplomas to journalists. For special contribution to promoting the human rights and for efficient cooperation with the People’s Advocate Office in 2016, diplomas were given to journalists of the Association of Independent Press, IPN News Agency and Canal Regional TV channel.