Communist MPs say Moldova did well in human rights in 2007, as opposition MPs say it is back-runner
Despite the authorities' efforts, the same scope of major problems remains in Moldova: the precarious functioning of judiciary, the conditions in which a large number of pensioners survive, the precarious detention conditions and torture, police's abuse, disregard for the right to property. This is just a conclusion of the Report on observing the human rights in Moldova in 2007, Thursday presented in the Parliament by the Human Rights Center (HRC), Info-Prim Neo reports.
Its chief, Parliamentary advocate (ombudsman) Raisa Apolschi, said, in 2007 as before, the most frequent notifications to the HRC (25%) envisaged the violation of the right of free access to justice and the right to fair trial. “The petitions prove that the judiciary goes on being perceived by the population as a barrier in carrying out their rights, because of the level of corruption within the system, the restricted access to lawyers' services and of tergiversating the hearing of case,” Raisa Apolschi said.
The number of the citizens' petitions related to the violation of the right to security and personal dignity (18.6%) remains rather high, the ones related to the violation of the free access to information represent 13.9%, the ones related to assistance and social protection represent 13.8%, to private property (7.5%), to healthcare (4.6%), to labor (3%) etc.
Most of the notifications came from detainees, retired, employees, disabled, unemployed and pupils. For example some citizens notify the violation of the right to education: 270 localities do not have schools, some of them don't have textbooks.
Former deported people notify the HRC about the law not enabling them to be returned their properties. Some citizens complain they remain penniless after some banks went bust. Other citizens complain of drawbacks in conferring disability degrees. All in all, in 2007, the HRC received 1,714 petitions, 200 less than in 2006, Raisa Apolschi said.
The report has been positively appreciated by the Communists faction. “The degree of observing the human rights is better every year. The PCRM faction considers positive trends were found in 2007 concerning the observance of the human rights,” said Communist Parliamentarian Larisa Zimin.
On the other hand, Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) MP Veaceslav Untila said Moldova is a back-runner in this regard. AMN considers the human rights will be observed only the Communist leave the power. Democrat Oleg Tulea blamed the Government as the main guilty one for the dramatic situation Moldova is in. He says the Government more worried about the consequences of the violations – the large number of cases lost at the ECHR, and not about the violations as such. Despite the authorities' efforts, the situation is concerning, said Christian-Democrat Vlad Cubreacov.
The HRC annually presents its report to the Parliament. Three ombudsmen are responsible for considering petitions, inform and help citizens.