UN High Commissioner: Moldova reminds me of South Africa

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay said that Moldova reminds her of her native country – South Africa. “The society there was also closed initially, but then changed and become more tolerant and open, as Moldova,” the High Commissioner told a news conference, Info-Prim Neo reports. Navanethem Pillay said that Moldovan authorities’ efforts to ensure the observance of human rights are successful, but there is yet a lot of work to do to improve the situation in the country. “Moldova made progress in ensuring the right to expression and the mass media is freer. But I identified a case when a Moldovan newspaper was fined a large sum of money. I think this is a too drastic punishment, especially in the present economic conditions in the country,” she said. The UN official also said that torture is used in Moldova, as in many other countries of the world. “There are acts of torture all over the world and they should be punished harshly. Those who have power commit acts of torture most often, but the legal system should not take this into account. Everyone must be equal before the law, regardless of the post held,” said Navanethem Pillay. She informed that while in Moldova, she paid a visit to the Transnistrian region. “I met with the local administration and spoke about the problems they encounter, especially about the new regulations which ban the registered religious communities from having public communications during the first 10 years of the registration. I said that it was a violation of the right to religion. I asked respecting the rights of the men who do not want to do their military service on moral grounds and setting free a man who got one year for this reason,” said the UN High Commissioner. She insisted that the Moldovan authorities should adopt the antidiscrimination law so as to ensure the respect for all the human rights. She said that tolerance can be developed by education. Navanethem Pillay said the Moldovan society is peaceful and tolerant, but there is a religious group that tries to dominate the rest of the population and make the people be against the sexual minorities and the Islamic groups The High Commissioner said she made recommendations for the Moldova authorities, stressing the UN will support Moldova in its efforts to ensure the observance of human rights and promote diversity in society.