Trilateral dialogue between Moldovan and Romanian judges with German experts during the round table on hate crimes

The round table on the legal basis and identification of hate crimes, especially in the online environment, is being held at the National Institute of Justice. For two days, on December 2 and 3, 2024, judges from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, together with German experts, will transfer knowledge and best practices, as well as analyze the legal mechanisms for evaluating and sanctioning these sensitive cases.

The event began with greeting messages from the representatives of the organizing institutions - Adrian Cerbu, Acting Director of the National Institute of Justice, Stanislav Copețchi, State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova, and Frank Hupfeld, project coordinator for the Republic of Moldova and Georgia from the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation. They emphasized the alarming increase in these types of crimes and highlighted the importance of combating discrimination and prejudice in accordance with European and international standards.

The roundtable program will cover a wide range of topics, including interpreting the legal framework, challenges faced by judges and ways to address new trends in hate speech, with a particular focus on anti-Semitic and homophobic online posts.

A significant component of the activity will be dedicated to the rights and services for victims of hate crimes, the methods by which state institutions inform and support victims, including through collaboration with NGOs.

The round table is organized by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the National Institute of Justice.