On December 2, 2010, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, organized a consultative forum for public relations officers of the territorial subdivisions of the MIA.
The participants in the trainings have been familiarized with the activities of the UNHCR Programme in Moldova, with projects implemented and financed by the European Union and the activities of implementing partners of UNHCR, NGOs “Save the Children” in Moldova, the Lawyers Law Center, Charity Center for Refugees and Society for Refugeea. Also during the event, the officers were familiarized with the tactics and methods of cooperation with media, discussed specific cases and their resolution.
The event was attended by the Minister Victor Catan, deputy ministers Iurie Cheptanaru, Dumitru Ursachi and Petrus Wijninga, UNHCR representative in Moldova, who underlined the important role of personnel working in the field of information and public relations, and the need to have more transparent activity and more objective reflection of events in the MAI.
Mr. Petrus Wijninga, UNHCR Representative in Moldova, said that during of the bureau activity in Moldova since 1997, cooperation between UNHCR and the MIA has been very successful. UNHCR appreciates Moldova's efforts to bring national laws into the line with international standards and the recent successes achieved in the field of refugee protection, such as the adoption of the Asylum Law, drafting a law on the integration of separate local and inclusion in the action plan for 2011 accession to the UN Convention on Statelessness.
UN Agency for Refugee in Moldova, has a long history of cooperation. In 2001, Moldova acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocol from 1967 and thus assumed the commitment to protect the refugees. In 2008, Moldova adopted a new Law on Asylum, which is considered by UNHCR as a very progressive step in the development of the national asylum system. In 2009 Moldova became a member of the Executive Committee of UNHCR.
Asylum seekers and refugees in Moldova come from about 30 countries. On October 31, 2010 in Moldova lived 145 recognized refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection. 82 cases of displaced people are awaiting a decision at first instance or on appeal.
Information and Public Relations Department
03.12.2010
