On October 28 – October 30, National Human Rights Institutions from Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus gathered in Chisinau to share experiences, discuss challenges and strategies for monitoring, reporting and advocating for the human rights of populations residing in conflict-affected areas.

Millions of people in Europe reside in territories where state authority is either absent or significantly weakened, due to conflict or post-conflict situations. The populations in these areas often face serious and systemic human rights challenges, limited access to justice, and limited access to independent monitoring mechanisms. National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have a unique capacity to respond to these challenges, yet practical guidance on how they can effectively operate in such complex and challenging environments is scarce and their practical engagement remains limited.

To address this gap, from 28-30 October a roundtable took place in Chișinău, Moldova, co-hosted by the People’s Advocate of the Republic of Moldova, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and the Council of Europe, in partnership with the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI).

The event brought together National Human Rights Institutions from the region to share experiences, discuss challenges, and develop strategies, methods and practices of how human rights monitoring can be strengthened in areas with restricted access or institutional engagement. In addition to NHRIs, a selected number of civil society organizations with practical experience in human rights monitoring in complex settings were invited to share their experiences and foster cross-sectoral dialogue.

Sessions throughout the 2.5-day roundtable covered topics such as the assessment and management of operational and reputational risks for NHRIs working in non-government-controlled territories, and principles for data quality and the adoption of a human rights-based approach to data collection for hard-to-reach populations. Contributions from National Human Rights Institutions of Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and civil society actors from the region offered valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of working in conflict-affected contexts.

The Regional Roundtable “Human Rights Monitoring in Conflict-Affected Areas” concluded with a strong reaffirmation that human rights protection must persist beyond lines of control. Participants from Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, and Belarus underlined that through dialogue, ethical monitoring, institutional resilience, and regional solidarity, National Human Rights Institutions and their partners can continue to uphold accountability, document truth, and safeguard human dignity – even amid conflict, occupation, and repression.