Over the past few years, digitalization has emerged as one of the most important areas of state reform in the Republic of Moldova, accelerated by the country’s European integration process, recent crises, and the growing expectations of its citizens. The development of digital public services has aimed to reduce bureaucracy, increase the efficiency of public administration, facilitate access to services, and strengthen the resilience of the state.

This rapid transformation brings undeniable benefits, but it also generates significant risks for human rights. Digitalization is not neutral from this perspective:  the way technologies are designed, implemented, and governed can either strengthen fundamental rights or make them vulnerable.

Based on this reality, People’s Advocate Office, in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, has developed a study dedicated to analyzing the impact of digitalization on fundamental rights. The study provides an assessment of emerging risks and proposes concrete recommendations to ensure that technology serves the public interest and protects the dignity and rights of every person.

The study also supports decision-makers, public institutions, academia, civil society, the private sector, and international partners by providing a practical prevention tool that allows for the identification and management of human rights risks. This is all the more important as the Republic of Moldova does not currently have a formal mechanism for assessing the impact of digitalization, and the existing measures are fragmented and predominantly reactive; in the absence of a structured framework, systemic risks only become visible after the damage has been done.

The study was based on a mixed methodological design: analysis of the legislative framework and national policies, a multisectoral discussion group organized by the Ombudsman’s Office (March 28, 2025, 17 participants), a questionnaire administered to discussion group participants, and a public online survey ( March-April 2025; 66 complete responses) .

Main human rights-centered findings:

• Fragmentation of the legal framework: The lack of a unified and coherent legislative framework in the field of digital governance generates unequal guarantees and unclear responsibilities between institutions, affecting the predictability and application of fundamental rights, including the right to privacy and effective redress.
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• Affecting the right to privacy and data protection: The expansion of state registers, the exchange of data between institutions and the use of emerging technologies increase the risk of excessive surveillance, unauthorized access to data and disproportionate use of personal information.
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• Automated decisions without sufficient guarantees: Frequent use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making without clear mechanism of human oversight, transparency and challenge can lead to opaque decisions, systemic errors and discrimination. In May 2025, ChatGPT owned 91.4% of the mobile chatbots market based on artificial intelligence in the Republic of Moldova, followed by Microsoft Copilot and Gemini.
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• Digital exclusion and indirect discrimination: Elderly people, persons with disabilities, linguistic minorities and rural communities risk being excluded from equal access to essential services, unless digitalization is accompanied by measures of accessibility, linguistic parity and equivalent offline alternatives.
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• Freedom of expression and online safety:  The insufficiently developed governance of digital platforms creates risks for freedom of expression, child protection, and combating hate speech without affecting pluralism and democratic debate.
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• Data protection: While progress has been made, enforcement capacity remains insufficient in sensitive sectors such as health, justice, social protection and education.

Key recommendations reflected in the Study:

• Adopt a coherent national vision for digital governance by harmonizing laws, policies, and fragmented strategies within a single regulatory framework. This could ensure greater clarity, coherence and accountability in the way digital reforms are designed and implemented.
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• Ensure inclusion and equality by integrating accessibility standards, multilingual parity and offline equivalence into all digital reforms. Essential services must remain available to everyone, including those who do not have digital access or face language and physical barriers.
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• Place human rights in the center of digital transformation, by introducing human rights and data protection impact assessments as a mandatory element of every major initiative. Integrating safeguard from the design stage can prevent rights violations and build public trust.
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• Strengthen institutional cooperation and accountability by promoting systematic coordination between Parliament, Government, supervisory bodies, local authorities, and civil society. Transparent reporting and open dialogue can ensure democratic control of digitalization processes.
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• Align Moldova’s digital reforms with European and international standards, including the GDPR, NIS2 Directive, AI Act, and Digital Services Act. This alignment would strengthen Moldova’s path towards EU integration while adopting internationally recognized best practices.
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• Invest in capacity building and public awareness so that institutions, businesses, and citizens have the knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate the digital space responsibly and safely. For children, this requires education on digital skills, accountability of online platforms, and capacity building of child protection institutions.

To support public institutions, the study includes in its annex a “Digitalization and human rights” checklist (Annex 1) – a tool that could be used to identify and manage risks throughout the technology lifecycle – and a stakeholder and impact matrix (Annex 2) for prioritizing interventions.

The study does not aim to be exhaustive assessment: the empirical basis has limitations in terms of time and sample size. Based on these limitations, the report recommends launching a comprehensive follow-up assessment program with broader sectoral coverage, extensive consultation, and technical audits for high-risk systems.

Approximately 60 stakeholders attended, including representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Agency for Cybersecurity, the National Center for Personal Data Protection, the Council for Equality, the Audiovisual Council, the Agency for Digitalization in Justice and Judicial Administration, the General Police Inspectorate, the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Service, as well as civil society organizations (Promo-LEX, Amnesty International Moldova, IMS – International Media Support, Platform for Gender Equality), international organizations and institutions (European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, Embassy of Denmark, UN OHCHR Moldova UNICEF Moldova, UN Women Moldova), the private sector (Moldcell SA) and academia (Moldova State University, Technical University of Moldova, Cybercor Institute, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova) — demonstrates a shared commitment to this priority.

Present at the event, MR. Andrei Cusca, Head of the Information Technology and Digitalization Policy Department within the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, presented the ministry’s initiatives and achievements in the field of digitization, and subsequently welcomed the launch of the study, noting its relevance in the context of digitization processes.

The Danish Institute’s senior advisor on human rights, business, and technology, praised the comprehensive and inclusive nature of the study’s development process, which involved a variety of relevant actors in the field of digitalization in the Republic of Moldova, expressing hope that this initiative will contribute to promoting digitalization based on respect for human rights at the national level.

“Digitization is not only an opportunity to modernize public services, but also a major responsibility: the way we adopt and govern digital technologies will determine whether the fundamental rights of every citizen are protected or exposed to risks.” – Ceslav Panico, Ombudsman.

In this regard, the study reinforces the position of the Ombudsman’s Office as a key player in risk prevention and the protection of fundamental rights in the era of artificial intelligence, in full compliance with emerging European standards and the Republic of Moldova’s international obligations in the field of human rights.

Following the launch of the Study, the People’s Advocate Office, in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, intends to initiate several measures aimed at strengthening the human rights-based approach in digitalization processes. These include the establishment of a Working Group or an intersectoral Council that can provide expertise in identifying areas of intervention and public policies that need improvement. At the same time, the Ombudsman aims to develop education and information platforms designed to raise awareness of the impact of digitalization on human rights.

Digitalization can be a catalyst for democratic progress only if it is designed and governed with respect for human dignity, equality, and the rule of law. Preventing the risks identified in the study requires a joint effort by public authorities, the private sector, civil society, academia, and international partners.

The elaboration of the study and the organization of the launch event of the study was carried out within the Memorandum of Understanding 2024-2025 between People’s Advocate Office and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

The full study, including its annexes and the proposed instruments, is publicly available on the official website of the People’s Advocate Office: https://ombudsman.md/evaluation-study-impact-of-digitalization-on-human-rights-in-the-republic-of-moldova-2/

The Public Defender of Georgia has submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was prepared in response to the list of issues submitted by the Committee in relation to Georgia's third periodic report.

The document represents an independent and additional assessment of the state of implementation of Georgia's obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and is based on monitoring carried out under the mandate of the Public Defender, consideration of individual cases and thematic reports.

The document discusses the problems of poverty and child poverty, housing and homelessness. The report also assesses the state of labour rights and decent working conditions, and challenges in terms of equality between women and men.

The Committee will consider the report at its 79^th session on February 11-12.

In January 2024, the Public Defender of Georgia submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the 74^th pre-sessional working meeting as well, in which he responded to Georgia’s 3rd periodic report and assessed the state of implementation of the commitments assumed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, held an informative session with final year Bachelor of Arts Honours in Journalism students from the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology. The visit formed part of the students’ practical learning as part of their module on institutional set up.

Welcoming the students, the Ombudsman stressed the importance of future journalists understanding the role and function of oversight and integrity institutions. He highlighted the strong working relationship between the Office of the Ombudsman and the media and underlined how journalists play a key role in informing the public about the Ombudsman’s work, mission, and contribution to transparency and accountability. He referred to several own initiative investigations that originated from media reporting and led to concrete outcomes and recommendations for redress.

During the session, the Ombudsman explained the mission and legal framework of the Office, guiding students through the Ombudsman Act and its provisions using practical examples. He described how complaints are handled, how investigations are conducted, and how the Office engages with public authorities. The discussion also covered the Ombudsman’s broader role in promoting good governance and upholding the rule of law.

Students participated actively throughout the session and raised questions on a wide range of issues. These included the types of complaints that fall within the Ombudsman’s remit, the protection and promotion of human rights, the Ombudsman’s proposed legislative framework to incorporate human rights within the mandate of the Office, and the reports submitted to Parliament.

The students were accompanied by their lecturer, Dr Natalino Fenech. The visit provided an opportunity for direct engagement and practical insight into the work of the Ombudsman and the role of independent oversight institutions in a democratic society.

Il Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici delle Regioni e delle Province Autonome conferma il proprio ruolo di interlocutore istituzionale privilegiato per la tutela dei diritti dei cittadini e il corretto funzionamento dell’amministrazione pubblica.

Nei giorni scorsi il Dipartimento della Funzione Pubblica – Ispettorato per la Funzione Pubblica ha trasmesso al Coordinamento una nota ufficiale in merito ad alcune questioni interpretative relative alle procedure di accesso civico generalizzato (FOIA), chiedendo una valutazione unitaria e l’eventuale individuazione di prassi comuni da adottare sul territorio nazionale.

Il coinvolgimento diretto del Coordinamento rappresenta un riconoscimento formale del suo ruolo strategico all’interno del sistema istituzionale italiano. Il Coordinamento, infatti, opera da anni per assicurare standard omogenei di tutela, favorire il dialogo tra Difensori Civici regionali e promuovere una coerente applicazione delle norme in materia di trasparenza, partecipazione e protezione dei diritti fondamentali.

“La richiesta di confronto avanzata dalla Funzione Pubblica conferma il valore del nostro lavoro e l’importanza di una rete nazionale capace di garantire uniformità e certezza del diritto ai cittadini”, dichiara Marino Fardelli, Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici.
“La difesa civica è oggi un presidio istituzionale irrinunciabile: non solo tutela i diritti, ma contribuisce a migliorare l’efficienza delle amministrazioni e a rafforzare la fiducia tra cittadini e istituzioni”.

Il Coordinamento ha già avviato un gruppo di lavoro dedicato all’approfondimento delle questioni sollevate e, nelle prossime settimane, presenterà alla Funzione Pubblica le proprie valutazioni tecniche e le iniziative utili a garantire un’applicazione uniforme e non formalistica della normativa FOIA.

In parallelo, il Coordinamento prosegue nel proprio impegno a rafforzare il sistema delle garanzie attraverso:
– la definizione di linee guida nazionali;
– la promozione di percorsi di formazione e aggiornamento per gli Uffici dei Difensori Civici;
– iniziative di sensibilizzazione rivolte ai cittadini e alle scuole;
– attività di rappresentanza nei tavoli istituzionali dedicati alla semplificazione amministrativa e alla tutela degli utenti dei servizi pubblici.

Il Coordinamento rinnova la propria disponibilità a collaborare con tutte le istituzioni centrali e territoriali, convinto che una Difesa Civica forte e coesa rappresenti un elemento essenziale per una pubblica amministrazione moderna, trasparente e vicina alle persone.

Nota del Dipartimento della Funzione Pubblica

El Premio de Derechos Humanos Rey de España, que conceden el Defensor del Pueblo y la Universidad de Alcalá, ha recaído en su décima edición en el Museo de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos de Chile (MMDH).

El Premio de Derechos Humanos Rey de España reconoce la labor de las entidades e instituciones, privadas o públicas, de España, Portugal y resto de países iberoamericanos que se distingan en la defensa y promoción de los derechos humanos y los valores democráticos, o que impulsen la investigación y la puesta en práctica de programas de actuación dirigidos a promover estos valores.

Ubicado en Santiago de Chile, el Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos tiene como principal función dar visibilidad a las violaciones sistemáticas de los derechos humanos cometidas por el Estado de Chile entre los años 1973 y 1990.  

El patrimonio de sus archivos contempla testimonios orales y escritos, documentos jurídicos, cartas, relatos, producción literaria, material de prensa escrita, audiovisual y radial, largometrajes, material histórico y fotografías documentales. A través de su labor educativa y su trabajo con comunidades, investigadores, docentes y estudiantes, promueve activamente la enseñanza de los derechos humanos como práctica ciudadana cotidiana, integrando los lenguajes del arte, la investigación, la educación y la tecnología para estimular la reflexión crítica en torno a la dignidad humana y la convivencia democrática.

A la hora de conceder el Premio, el jurado ha valorado “la ingente actividad memorística de esta institución fundada en 2010, como una garantía de futuro para la democracia y los derechos humanos”. 

Asimismo, los miembros del jurado han destacado que, “en el contexto dramático de las dictaduras militares del Cono Sur, ya superadas, este reconocimiento aspira a convertirse en una herramienta y un aval sin retrocesos para la democracia y los derechos humanos en Chile y en el mundo”.

58 candidaturas procedentes de 14 países

Instituido en 2002, el Premio de Derechos Humanos Rey de España tiene una dotación económica de 25.000 euros y una periodicidad bianual. En esta edición se han presentado 58 candidaturas procedentes de 14 países.  

La entrega del Premio la realiza el Rey Felipe VI en un solemne acto que se celebra en la Capilla de San Ildefonso de la Universidad de Alcalá y que tendrá lugar en el mes de mayo.

El Defensor del Pueblo, Ángel Gabilondo, y el rector de la Universidad de Alcalá, José Vicente Saz, han presidido el jurado conformado por el presidente de la Agencia EFE, Miguel Ángel Oliver; el catedrático de Filología Inglesa y exrector de la Universidad de Alcalá, Fernando Galván; el secretario general de la Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (OEI), Mariano Jabonero; la vocal del CGPJ y presidenta del Observatorio contra la Violencia de Género, María Esther Erice; la directora general de Naciones Unidas, Organismos Internacionales y Derechos Humanos del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación, Lucía García; el director de la Real Academia Española (RAE), Santiago Muñoz Machado; el catedrático emérito de Derecho Constitucional de Universidad Autónoma de Madrid y exadjunto primero del Defensor del Pueblo, Antonio Rovira; la presidenta de la Fundación José Saramago, Pilar del Río; el director de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Antón Leis; la directora general de la Fundación Ortega-Marañón, Lucía Sala, y la profesora de Victimología de la Universidad del País Vasco y directora del Instituto Vasco de Criminología (IVAC-KREI), Gema Varona. El secretario general del Defensor del Pueblo, José Manuel Saudinós, actuó como secretario del jurado.

En la anterior edición fue premiada la ONG mexicana Colectivo Familiares por Nuestros Desaparecidos de Jalisco (FUNDEJ), cuyo fin es encontrar a todas las personas desaparecidas en ese Estado y formar una red de apoyo, orientación y acompañamiento a los familiares en el proceso de denuncia, búsqueda y localización de personas desaparecidas.

 Más información

https://mmdh.cl/