BUREAU FOR EUROPE - COUNTRY PROFILE - MOLDOVA - August 2007
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| Basic Information | Population: 4,320,490 (July 2007 est.), Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.), Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) |
| UNHCR presence | UNHCR Representation in Moldova |
| 1951 Refugee Convention | Party since 31 January 2002 |
| 1967 Protocol | Party since 31 January 2002 |
| 1954 Stateless Persons Convention | Not party |
| 1961 Reduction of Statelessness Convention | Not party |
| UNHCR Representation | Representative (Wijninga, L-4), 2 national staff, 2 general staff |
| Government Counterparts | Refugee Directorate (Migration and Asylum Bureau, Ministry of Interior), Ministry of Interior, Parliamentary Commissions for Human Rights and for Legal Immunities and Nominations, Municipality of Chisinau, Centre for Human Rights of Moldova |
| Implementing Partners | Law Centre of Advocates, Society of Refugees, Charity Centre for Refugees, Save the Children Moldova |
| Other Partners | OSCE, UNICEF, UNDP |
| Contributions in 2007 (as at 31 July in 2007) | N/A |
| Contributions in 2006 | N/A |
| Level of contributions to UNHCR in 2006 | Donor Ranking: N/A
Per Capita:N/A
Per GDP: N/A |
| Number of Refugees | 190 (RUS: 20, Other: 170) in 2007 |
| 161 (RUS:30, ARM: 23, SYR: 17, Other: 91) in 2006 |
| Number of Asylum Seekers | 135 (Other: 135) in 2007 |
| 78 (ARM: 15, TUR: 14, JOR:11, Other: 38) in 2006 |
| Recognition Rate in 2006 | 12.6%(Refugee status) |
| 79.6% (Other status) |
| Number of IDPs | N/A |
| Number of Stateless Persons in 2006 | 1 706 |
| Office Strategic Objectives | Securing full and unhindered access to territory and asylum - Securing protection against refoulement-Advocating for and supporting appropriate policies, legislation and practices on asylum and statelessness -Assisting in the development of quality RSD - Protecting against abuse, SGBV, exploitation - Ensuring border-monitoring - Developing the Governments capacity, including improvement in reception facilities - Ensuring adherence to international protection standards and development of gender and age sensitive asylum systems - Supporting COI system development - Fostering of effective action to prevent and reduce situations of statelessness- Promoting increasing resettlement opportunities- Promote integration measures for recognized refugees - Assisting refugees in voluntary repatriation - Ensuring border monitoring with coordination of all actors/partners and developing partnership with IOM - Strengthening the protection of refugees within broader migration movements- Addressing detention of asylum-seekers and refugees- Supporting the Söderköping Process and developing strategic partnership on migration-
Working with the Governments, NGOs and other to implement the UNHCR document “Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration: a 10-Point-Plan of Action” as well as of its Plan for Implementation at the EU Eastern Border (to be developed in 2007).
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| Main Activities of UNHCR | Lobbying and advocacy for effective asylum systems and legislation further in line with international standards - Border monitoring - Engagement in Asylum-Migration dialogue - Implementation of Söderköping Process - Training for government officials involved in RSD - Processing for resettlement - PI activities aimed at combatting racism, xenophobia, refoulement |
| Protection Concerns | Lengthy RSD process - Limited independence of judiciary - Lack of state integration programs for refugees - Overall difficult socio-economic environment |
| Operations/Programs | Charity Centre for Refugees: Program to promote community development
Law Centre for Advocates: Legal assistance
Save the Children Moldova: Monitoring educational situation of a/s, refugee children, distribution of HIV related awareness raising information materials Society for Refugees: PI/PA activities; editing of Refugium news letter and Humanitarian and Refugee Law magazine |
| Repatriation | In 2006, UNHCR assisted in the voluntary repatriation of 5 persons. All the applicants were counselled by the UNHCR Legal Officer. |
| Local Integration | Extremely poor socio-economic conditions continued to be an obstacle to the application of this durable solution. Refugees are faced with the same, often severe, social and employment difficulties as the local population. These circumstances have led to the (mostly illegal) onward migration of refugees. Comprehensive governmental programs for the integration of refugees are yet to be developed and would require strong financial support from the international community. |
| Resettlement | One person in need of resettlement was identified in 2006 and was submitted to HQ. |
Key contacts at the Permanent Mission in
Geneva | Tel: 022 733 9103 Email: mission.moldova@ties.itu.int |
