Germany and UNDP launch a new project to improve access to justice of host communities and Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan host communities will benefit from enhanced access to justice, thanks to a new project funded by Germany and implemented by UNDP, as part of its Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development.

The project, entitled “Enhancing access to justice for living in dignity”, is funded with €1,600,452 by Germany and will be implemented until June 2024.

Mobile teams consisting of social workers, psychologists, and lawyers will be empowered to provide legal advice and support in cases of gender-based violence in communities from five districts (Căușeni, Edineț, Comrat, Ungheni, Soroca). Since 2022, UNDP has already started deploying such mobile teams, which connect refugees and host communities with local public authorities and provide legal, psychological, and social services.

“This joint initiative of Germany and UNDP aims to enhance the resilience of the rule of law system from the Republic of Moldova and strengthen its capacities to deliver effective remedies and provide access to public services both to locals and refugees from Ukraine,” said Andrea Cuzyova, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. to the Republic of Moldova.

The project will also engage 25 Ukrainian nationals to facilitate access to legal aid for other fellow refugees.

UNDP and Germany will support the reengineering and digitalizing of the internal processes of the National Legal Aid Council to operationalize and integrate the provision of partially-free legal aid services and recovery of costs. A platform for primary legal aid tele-assistance will be piloted.

Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, UNDP supported refugees to benefit from enhanced access to justice. Approx. 1,000 refugees from both banks of Nistru received legal assistance. 150 paralegals and social workers were trained in addressing refugees’ needs.