London, 13 July 2009 

On 10 July 2009, The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) submitted written comments to Vitalie Pârlog, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova on the Draft Law on Preventing and Combating Discrimination. The Draft Law aims to ensure the enjoyment by all persons in the territory of Moldova to equal rights and equal treatment in political, economic, social and other spheres of life. 

While there are numerous non-discrimination provisions currently in force in Moldova, as well as some judicial interventions to protect from discrimination, the lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination law has been holding back the fight against discrimination. The Draft Law is an attempt to fill this gap.

In its submission ERT assessed the Draft Law and set out its concerns on several crucial issues that should be addressed properly. ERT also provided recommendations on the basis of the Declaration of Principles on Equality as an international instrument of best practice to guide legislators and policy makers in strengthening national equality regimes. ERT’s most important recommendations related to:

• The definitions of direct and indirect discrimination and harassment;
• The absence of a reasonable accommodation provision;
• The unjustifiably broad exceptions to the prohibition of discrimination in access to goods and services; and
• The creation of a Government Committee to monitor the compliance of the Law.   

In spite of its concerns ERT commended the Draft Law for its unified approach which covers all grounds of discrimination and for including sexual orientation as a specifically prohibited ground of discrimination.

Moldova is just one of approximately 160 countries in the world that currently have no comprehensive anti-discrimination law to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and groups in society.

To read ERT’s written Submission on the Law on Preventing and Combating Discrimination, click here.