Digital psychological assessment and mental health – priorities on the agenda for discussions between INJ and IDLO

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the director of the National Institute of Justice, Ramona Strugariu, received the new director of the Office of the International Organization for the Development of Law (IDLO) in the Republic of Moldova, Andreea Vesa. The meeting was also attended by Ecaterina Popa, head of the Training and Research Directorate, Dan Bitianov, main specialist in the Continuous Training Section, as well as the representatives of the project "Promoting integrity and transparency for a modern justice sector" - Irina Lupușor and Vladislava Martin-Sîrbu.

During the discussions, the parties referred to the need to modernize the process of psychological testing of candidates for the positions of judge and prosecutor. The director of the INJ emphasized that the "zero priority" for the next admission session is the implementation of a digitized psychological evaluation platform - a scientifically validated and secure system that aligns national standards with European ones. This approach also represents a natural continuation of the conclusions formulated during the round table "Strengthening the psychological safety of judges and its impact on access to justice", organized at the Institute in September, where the need to standardize evaluation practices was highlighted.

Another topic of the meeting concerned the collaboration in order to develop a practical guide on mental health, intended for the beneficiaries of the National Institute of Justice. It was agreed that this tool should not only be a theoretical document, but also an actionable resource, aimed at supporting the management of professional pressure and the prevention of burnout among the judiciary.

The project "Promoting integrity and transparency for a modern justice sector" is implemented by the International Organization for the Development of Law, in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and aims to reduce corruption, increase transparency in all judicial processes and strengthen civic commitment to the institutions of the justice sector in the Republic of Moldova.