The Soros Foundation Moldova (SFM), in partnership with the General Police Inspectorate, has launched the Guidebook on Human Rights-Based Policing and the Police Standard Operating Procedures. The new Police Standard Operating Procedures were devised in the framework of the Advancing Human Rights-Based Policing in the Republic of Moldova Project that is financed by the European Union and is co-financed by the FSM, IPN reports.
Soros Foundation Moldova executive director Petru Culeac said the implementation of these procedures will be one more step towards advancing police reforms. The reforms should contribute to increasing the correctness and efficiency of the Police and the people’s trust in the Police. “I mentioned the word ‘trust’ not accidently. I firmly believe that beyond the multiple indicators for measuring police efficiency, such as the number of discovered crimes or the time of reaction to a call, the level of people’s trust in the Police is the most important indicator,” Petru Culeac stated in the launch.
EU Ambassador to Moldova Peter Michalko welcomed the devising of the Guidebook on Human Rights-Based Policing, noting that the respect for the basic human rights should become an integral part of the DNA of the Police in the Republic of Moldova. “We hope the Police during the election campaign will act as a neutral agent all over the country and will work in the interests of the people and society in general. For the international community and also for the European Union, given the priorities agreed through the current EU – Moldova Association Agenda, this will be one of the important points to be followed,” said the ambassador.
Lawyer Vadim Vieru, who devised the Human Rights-Based Policing, said the ensuring of the right to medical assistance during arrest, ensuring of translation or sign language in a language that is understood by the person in state custody are basic rights.
General Police Inspectorate chief Sergiu Paiu thanked the EU and SFM for the implementation of this project. “We are witnessing an event by which the Police in the Republic of Moldova show full openness to civil society and the community, while the observance of human rights is a priority assumed at institutional level. As the head of the General Police Inspectorate, I publicly declare the police service’s readiness to further cooperate with civil society and the development partners so that we could together create and guarantee equitable conditions of safety for all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” stated Sergiu Paiu.
The Soros Foundation Moldova during over 15 years has worked to enhance the protection of persons in Police custody. It offers assistance, monitors and supports the Police in the field of observance of human rights.
