The General Prosecutor’s Office informed the victim’s lawyer about the re-opening of the criminal investigation for the rape that took place in late 2014 in the town of Orhei. Thus, the institution accepted the lawyer’s complaint that challenged the order to terminate the criminal prosecution.
In this context, Dumitru Sliusarenco Promo-LEX lawyer and representative of the victim, stated: “The sex crimes and the public debates on them are sensitive issues, in particular for the victims. Disclosure of information that is still under investigation and of details about the private live of the involved parties may damage severely both the investigation effectiveness, and the victim’s situation.”
Given the above-mentioned we call on mass media:
- to cover this topic in an fair and unbiased manner;
- to respect the right to private life and dignity according to the RM Code of the Journalists’ Ethics;
- not to reveal personal data or any other information that could affect the investigation;
- to avoid gender-based discriminatory approaches, prejudices and stereotypes.
We remind that on 5 February 2016 Promo-LEX Association published a press release, which informed the public opinion about the faulty practice in conducting the investigation of sex crimes.
Promo-LEX underlines that the authorities neither investigate, nor protect efficiently the victims. Frequently, when investigating sexual offences, the authorities (policemen, investigators, prosecutors) are influenced by gender-based prejudice and stereotypes, therefore their investigation is inefficient.
Legal aid is provided under the “Strengthening civil society organizations from Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, to combat discrimination through advocacy actions” Project, implemented by The Equal Rights Trust and Promo-LEX Association and financed by the European Union.
For more details, please contact: Carolina Bondarciuc, Promo-LEX Press Officer: GSM 069637849, Tel/Fax (+373 22) 450024, e-mail:[email protected]