Two Council of Europe projects were launched in the Republic of Moldova to continue supporting reforms in the criminal justice sector. These are: “Strengthening the prison and probation reforms, provision of health care and the treatment of patients in closed institutions in the Republic of Moldova” with the duration of 36 months (“SPPRH Project”) and “Strengthening the human rights compliant criminal justice system in the Republic of Moldova”, with the duration of 30 months (“SHRCCJ Project”). Both projects are financed through the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2021-2024), IPN reports, quoting a press release of the CoE.
William Massolin, Head of Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, said SPPRH Project aims at supporting the enhancement of the prison management practices, the improvement of the quality of the provision of health care to inmates (including mental health care), supporting the probation in raising its profile, promoting the value of community sanctions and measures among all actors of the criminal justice system and strengthening of treatment programs and protocols for patients in psychiatric establishments (including forensic patients).
SHRCCJ Project is focused on pre-trial detention, criminal sentencing and enhancing the effectiveness of the mechanisms of control and monitoring over prison conditions (including the mechanisms available to the Ombudsperson Institution and the National Preventive Mechanism) and thus contributing to reducing overcrowding in prison and encouraging the use of community sanctions and measures. Its key objective is to make the criminal justice system in Moldova more in line with the human rights standards.
The two Projects are closely interlinked and together form a comprehensive approach towards solving key criminal justice issues in Moldova.
Alexandru Pleșca, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, said that for overpassing the current precarious situation in the justice system, further intervention and support is still needed. Both Projects will contribute to further strengthening the criminal justice system in the country, which is also grounded in the analysis of the findings and recommendations of the Council of Europe and other international bodies.
Cornel Lebedinschi, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, noted that the Projects’ work plan shall add value to each of the beneficiary involved in the Projects.
The overall Work Plans of the Projects and operational Work Plans for 2021 were discussed and endorsed by the Steering Committee members.
