Moldova

Moldova regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. In 2017, ODIHR and the OSCE Mission to Moldova co-organized a workshop for police, prosecutors and civil society on understanding and improving hate crime recording and data collection, which led to a set of recommendations for relevant state authorities.

Moldova has set up a "Strategic Group" tasked with identifying gaps in the capacity of police to effectively identify and investigate hate crimes. Moldova's National Human Rights Action Plan (2018-2022) also addresses hate crimes, and has provided a basis for the adoption of internal action plans related to hate crime recording and data collection, hate crime investigation, and hate crime training.

Following a request by Moldova's Ministry of Justice, in 2016 ODIHR provided a legal opinion on draft amendments related to bias-motivated offences. ODIHR's recommendations were largely reflected in amendments to the Criminal Code adopted by the Moldovan Parliament and published on 3 June 2022.

Hate crime data collection in Moldova
Support for hate crime victims in Moldova
Hate crime capacity building in Moldova
Moldova's hate crime legislation
Download the 2014 hate crime report for Moldova

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2023 7 1 2
2022 7 6 3
2021 8 1 7
2020 8 2 2
2019 Not available Not available Not available
2018 10 5 41
2017 17 5 10
2016 5 5 5
2015 0 0 1
2014 1 1 Not available
2013 4 Not available 0
2012 3 Not available Not available
2011 Not available Not available Not available
2010 Not available Not available Not available
2009 2 0 0

Hate crime recorded by police

National developments

A number of conferences on the issues of discrimination and hate crimes were held as part of the implementation of the "National Human Rights Action Plan 2011-2014." ODIHR and the Office of the Ombudsman – Centre for Human Rights co-organized a two-day workshop on combating hate crimes for employees of the Ombudsman's Office.

The Centre for Human Rights, with support from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and ABA ROLI, organized two round-tables discussing hate crime provisions in national legislation. Participants included judges, investigators, prosecutors and civil society groups.

The Ministry of Justice set up an inter-institutional working group to revise and improve Moldova’s Criminal Code provisions addressing hate crimes. The OSCE Mission to Moldova is represented in the working group.

A 12-hour course for judges and prosecutors on "Prevention and the fight against racial discrimination and intolerance" was introduced at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The course also deals with prosecuting hate crimes. A seminar for prosecutors and judges on investigating and examining hate crimes was organized at the NIJ, in co-operation with ABA ROLI. The NIJ, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the Moldovan Centre for Human Rights organized an additional workshop for prosecutors and judges on “Hate crimes and integration of foreigners: challenges and solutions”.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Moldova has not reported information on sentenced hate crime cases to ODIHR.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) conducted several seminars for border police, prosecutors and lawyers that addressed aspects of hate crime investigation and responses.