Ukrainian refugees to benefit from increased access to justice

Chisinau, August 19 /MOLDPRES/- Ukrainian refugees and host communities from the Republic of Moldova will benefit from increased access to justice within a project financed and implemented by UNDP.

According to UNDP, the initiative will support the services provided by paralegals by training more than 80 specialists, who will strengthen their knowledge to provide assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. At the same time, the network of paralegals will be expanded, and 10 new specialists will be hired.

“Refugees remain outside the systems and institutions that are designed to protect them – such as legal aid. This makes people vulnerable, especially women and girls. That's why we are making efforts to ensure the much-needed access to legal advice, so that people who flee the war and arrive in the Republic of Moldova can make informed decisions and benefit from protective measures", said the resident representative of UNDP in the Republic of Moldova, Dima Al-Khatib.

Thus, mobile teams of social workers, psychologists and lawyers will be created in Căușeni and Edineț districts. They will ensure the connection between refugees, host communities, local public authorities, and at the same time offer legal, psychological and social services. At the same time, the specialists will facilitate their employment in the labor field and their professional re-profiling.

The project will ensure, through Ukrainian translation, access to legal information and support services for refugees through the platform www.dopomoga.gov.md, launched by the Government. At the same time, an application will be developed for people who need legal assistance, including refugees.

The initiative has a budget of 250 thousand dollars and will be implemented in the period 2022-2023, in partnership with the Institute of Penal Reforms.

Photo: UNDP Moldova