The access to information remains a problem. The taxes for providing particular information by state institutions affect the budgets of editorial offices, while the periods during which this is furnished are too long. Such conclusions are contained in the reports compiled by the Civil Rights Defenders and 11 nongovernmental organizations that form part of the Coalition for the Universal Periodic Review. These monitored the observance and promotion of the political and civil rights in Moldova. Representatives of a number of NGOs, in a news conference at IPN, presented conclusions from the report that is to be analyzed during the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s session of this November.
Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center, said the authorities must ensure the implementation of the Law on Access to Information. “We want the taxes that the journalists must pay to state institutions for particular information to be annulled,” she stated. The expert noted that the public servants should be trained to communicate with the press and the period during which information is provided to journalists should be reduced because the information furnished a month after the request is made is no longer topical.
According to Nadine Gogu, the authorities should promote a program to support the press and should make effort to de-concentrate media conglomeration. “We think that a law is needed to protect the national media space. We will also insist on the adoption of the Broadcasting Code,” she stated.
In the same news conference, Nicoleta Hriplivii, of “Promo-LEX” Association, said that in 2012, when Moldova presented its first report, the authorities pledged to implement 122 recommendations, some of which refer to the observance of human rights in the Transnistrian region.
According to civil society, the human rights activists and independent journalists in Transnistria are subject to pressure. “Regrettably, a system for protecting the human rights in the Transnistrian region does not yet exist. We hope the Republic of Moldova will reassert its commitment to carry out the recommendations of the UN member states,” stated Nicoleta Hriplivii.
The reports compiled by civil society were submitted to the UN and is to be analyzed so as to get a clear picture of the situation of human rights in Moldova. In November, the UN will examine the Moldovan authorities’ official report that is to be produced by July 25.
