Overview of Human Rights in Moldova

The Republic of Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. While the government works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens, problems persist. Security forces in Moldova are known to beat and harass persons in custody. Once in custody, incommunicado detention can occur especially if one is an opposition political figure. Security forces are also known to monitor, harass, and intimidate political figures through unauthorized wiretaps and illegal searches. Both the police and judicial branches are corrupt and externally influenced by the executive branch. Harsh prison conditions are also a concern. Restrictions on freedom of assembly, the ability to register religious groups, and workers’ rights exist. Journalists also feel pressure to practice self-censorship. Societal discrimination against Roma (gypsies) and children continue to be problems in Moldova as well. No real progress has been made to resolve the situation of the self-proclaimed Dnestr-Moldavian Republic (DMR), a breakaway region in Moldova, which is internationally unrecognized.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

114th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.