Armenia/ Nagorno Karabakh/EOI – IMPORTANT
Dear colleagues, The Office of the People’s Advocate of Moldova is very pleased to announce that the statute and role of the People’s Advocate have been enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. The new regulations on the status and role of the People’s Advocate entered into force, starting May 19th, with the publication in the Official Monitor no.155-161 / 261 of the Parliament’s Law No. 70 of 13.04.2017, for completing the second title of the Supreme Law. The modification was included in a new chapter – Chapter III1, under art. 591. Completing the Constitution with provisions providing specific constitutional guarantees for the election, status, mandate and powers of the People’s Advocate gives the Ombudsman’s institution a solid legislative foundation and contributes to increasing its independence and autonomy vis-à-vis any public authority. This comes as a result of the recommendations made to Moldovan authorities by the Venice Commission in the Opinion on the Law No. 52 on the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman), adopted at the 103rd Plenary Meeting in June 2015. Please find attached unofficial translation of the new article. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate contacting us. Sincerely, Elena Coroi Consultant, Human rights promotion, communication and international relations unit The Office of the People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Moldova
Republic of Moldova
THE PARLIAMENT
LAW No. 70 Of 13.04.2017
To complete Title II of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova
Published: 19.05.2017 in the Official Monitor No. 155-161 art No: 261
The Parliament adopts this Constitutional Law.
Unique article – Title II of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, adopted on 29 July 1994 (republished in the Official Monitor of the Republic of Moldova, 2016, No. 78, Article 140), with ulterior amendments and supplements, shall be supplemented by Chapter III1 with the following content:
Chapter III1
THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE
Article 591
Statute and role of the People’s Advocate
(1) The People’s Advocate shall ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(2) A person qualified for appointment as People’s Advocate shall enjoy a perfect reputation, shall have high professional competence and notorious activity in the field of defense and promotion of human rights.
(3) The People’s Advocate shall be appointed by Parliament, with the vote of the majority of the elected deputies, on the basis of a transparent selection procedure, prescribed by law, for a non-renewable term of seven years. During the term, the People’s Advocate is independent and impartial. It cannot be subject to any imperative or representative mandate.
(4) The People’s Advocate shall not be legally answerable for the opinions expressed in relation to the exercise of the mandate.
(5) The People’s Advocate cannot perform any other remunerated function, except for didactic, scientific or creative activities. The People’s Advocate has no right to engage in political activity and cannot be a member of any political party.
(6) Interference in the activity of the People’s Advocate, deliberate ignorance of the referrals and recommendations of the People’s Advocate, as well as the obstruction in any way of his activity, bring legal liability in accordance with the law.
(7) The People’s Advocate may be dismissed by a 2/3 vote of the elected deputies, in accordance with the procedure established by the law, which provides for a prior hearing to be conducted before the vote.
(8) The organization and functioning of the Institution of the People’s Advocate shall be determined by organic law. “
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENT Andrian CANDU
Nr. 70., Chisinau, April 13, 2017
Հայաստանի եւ Արցախի մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպաններն աշխատանքային հանդիպում են ունեցել ԵՕԻ գլխավորքարտուղարի հետ
16.02.2017
Փետրվարի 15-ին Վիեննա քաղաքում կայացել է Եվրոպական օմբուդսմենների ինստիտուտի (European Ombudsman Institute) գլխավորքարտուղար Ժոզեֆ Սիգելեի, Հայաստանի մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպան Արման Թաթոյանի, Արցախի մարդու իրավունքներիպաշտպան Ռուբեն Մելիքյանի աշխատանքային հանդիպումը։
Ժոզեֆ Սիգելեն ներկայացրել է ԵՕԻ ընթացիկ գործունեությունը և առաջիկա ծրագրերը, իսկ Արման Թաթոյանն ու Ռուբեն Մելիքյանը, համապատասխանաբար, ՀՀ-ում և ԼՂՀ-ում մարդու իրավունքների վիճակը, առկա մարտահրավերները և դրանց հաղթահարման ուղիները։
Ռուբեն Մելիքյանը նաև ներկայացրել է 2016թ. ապրիլյան պատերազմի ընթացքում Ադրբեջանի կատարած դաժանությունների վերաբերյալփաստահավաք առաքելության արդյունքները։ Կողմերը քննարկել են նաև Ալեքսանդր Լապշինի գործով վերջին զարգացումները։
Հարկ է նշել, որ Արցախի մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանի հաստատությունը 2009 թվականից Եվրոպական օմբուդսմեններիինստիտուտի անհատական անդամ է։
The Ombudsmen of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh had an official meeting with the EOI Secretary General.
On 15 February in Vienna, an official meeting was held between the EOI Secretary General Mr. Jozeph Sigele and the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia Mr. Arman Tatoyan and the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh Republic) Ruben Melikyan.
During the meeting, Jozeph Sigele presented the ongoing activities and future plans of the EOI. Arman Tatoyan and Ruben Melikyan respectively introduced the human rights situation, current challenges and the means to overcome them in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Ruben Melikyan also presented the results of the fact-finding mission concerning to the Azerbaijani hostilities during the April war in 2016.
The recent developments on Alexander Lapshin’s case were also discussed by the Parties.
It should be mentioned that the Human Rights Defender’s Institute of Artsakh is an individual member of the EOI since 2009.