The United Nations Organization in Moldova launches the 16th edition of the United Nations Human Rights Awards 2021 competition aiming at recognizing the most valuable human rights promotion and protection actions in the Republic of Moldova. The competition aims at highlighting and awarding the most creative, innovative, efficient, appropriate and participatory initiatives and actions to advocate and protect the human rights in the Republic of Moldova on both banks of the River Nistru, IPN reports.

The 2021 Competition includes four awards as follows General Award for an Outstanding Human Rights Achievement in 2020, 2021; Award for an Outstanding Human Rights Achievement at the local level in 2020, 2021; Special Award for Outstanding Achievements in the field of rights to health, education, work and/or social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 - 15 October 2021; Special Award for groups/organizations for active involvement in promoting equality and non-discrimination in 2020, 202.

The nominations for any of the awards mentioned above can be made online in Romanian, Russian, English or any other minority language present in the Republic of Moldova. The candidates can be individuals or companies that performed activities during 15 October 2019 - 15 October 2021, and during 7 March 2020 - 15 October 2021 for the Outstanding Achievement in the field of human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nominations of third parties and self-nominations are accepted.

Proposed candidates should not have received the UN Human Rights Award in the past five years. Also, their actions should have not been implemented with the support or with finances from the UN agencies/programs/funds.

The nomination forms may be submitted online with the confirmation of submitting the nomination to the email rco.moldova@un.org. Deadline for candidate’s registration is 15 November 2021, 18.00.

Files of nominated persons or companies will be judged by a team of experts and an independent council consisting of representatives of international organizations and missions and independent experts. The competition winners will be announced and awarded during the 2021 UN Human Rights Gala organized annually on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day celebrated in the month of December.