Lawyers of the Moldovan Institute for Human Rights (IDOM), together with other partner associations, provided free legal assistance and psychosocial assistance to over 1,000 Ukrainian refugees. In a press conference hosted by IPN, IDOM executive director Vanu Jereghi said that the need for this support came after they received notifications about human rights violations or particular misunderstandings in the relations with the authorities.
“Also, we considered it important to cover the psychosocial part as long as this group of beneficiaries also needs such services. Thus, the IDOM team, together with our partners from the Psinclusion mental health center, created mobile teams that traveled throughout the country and satisfied the needs of beneficiaries from Ukraine. In addition to these activities, we conducted training seminars on human rights for refugees, namely how they can defend their human rights themselves,” stated Vanu Jereghi.
Valerian Mămăligă, lawyer for IDOM’s Advocacy and Strategic Litigation Program, said that the main goal of the project was to improve the situation of refugees’ rights by providing psychosocial and legal assistance. A number of activities were carried out, such as training seminars for managers and representatives of temporary placement centers for refugees. They also worked with refugees, explaining their rights and how they can defend them. The formulation of recommendations for the authorities is another achievement.
Alexandru Cebanaș, lawyer for IDOM’s Monitoring and Reporting Program, noted that initially the normative framework regarding refugees was less restrictive and offered a wider range of rights and freedoms. As the urgency lessened, attempts were made to gradually impose restrictions to encourage refugees to fit into life in Moldova, including through employment. Changes were also made to the method of accommodation in temporary placement centers. As regards the granting of social assistance, several eligibility criteria are to be introduced.
The lawyer said the refugees initially faced reluctance on the part of banks to open accounts for them. Following the reporting of the problem, the authorities issued a circular for banks as a result of which the opening and management of accounts was facilitated. At the same time, the decision on temporary protection was extended in March. Thus, all guarantees offered by the Republic of Moldova regarding the stay and employment of Ukrainian refugees were extended.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news made from the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
