On 26 May 2026, Promo-LEX Association organized a roundtable discussion in Chișinău dedicated to the presentation of two White Papers on the Republic of Moldova’s preparation for the reintegration of the Transnistrian region in the fields of education, justice, and victims’ rights. The event brought together representatives of public institutions and civil society in a dialogue focused on the challenges and measures necessary for managing a future democratic reintegration process based on respect for human rights.
The event was opened by Ion Manole, Executive Director of Promo-LEX, and Natalia Vîlcu, Advocacy and Programs Director at Soros Foundation Moldova. In their remarks, they emphasized the importance of early and coherent institutional preparation for the reintegration of the Transnistrian region in the context of ongoing regional transformations and Moldova’s advancing European integration process.
During the first session, dedicated to educational reintegration, participants were presented with a White Paper analyzing the impact of more than three decades of isolation and ideological control over the educational system in the Transnistrian region. The document highlights the need for public policies aimed at democratizing and de-ideologizing education, promoting the Romanian language, strengthening a shared civic and cultural space, and developing effective institutional coordination mechanisms to prepare for educational reintegration.
The author of the document, human rights analyst Mihaela Șerpi, warned that the lack of proactive measures may generate major difficulties in curriculum harmonization, linguistic integration, and rebuilding social trust. She also stressed the need for active involvement of central authorities, educational institutions, and civil society in developing a long-term strategic vision.
The second session focused on the White Paper on justice and victims’ rights, which assesses the institutional preparedness of the Republic of Moldova to address the consequences of human rights violations committed in the Transnistrian region. The document identifies significant gaps in victim protection and support mechanisms, interinstitutional cooperation, documentation of abuses, and the integration of the justice dimension into reintegration policies.
The author of the White Paper, lawyer Nicoleta Hriplivîi, stated that the assessment found that the Republic of Moldova still lacks a comprehensive and coordinated mechanism for addressing the consequences of human rights violations committed in the Transnistrian region.
“There is a lack of clear policies regarding support for victims, effective documentation and interinstitutional cooperation mechanisms, as well as a strategic vision on how the justice dimension should be integrated into the reintegration process. In the absence of timely preparatory measures, there is a risk of perpetuating vulnerabilities and undermining victims’ access to truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition,” Nicoleta Hriplivîi stated.
Participants emphasized that reintegration cannot take place without addressing the human rights dimension and without developing functional instruments for support, rehabilitation, and access to justice for people affected by abuses. They also stressed the need for a coordinated approach among institutions responsible for justice, human rights, and reintegration policies, including in the context of Moldova’s accession process to the European Union.
During the discussion panel, representatives of public institutions and civil society discussed current challenges, intervention priorities, and the steps needed to strengthen the state’s capacity to manage a future reintegration process in a democratic, inclusive, and rights-based manner.
Promo-LEX emphasizes that preparing for the reintegration of the Transnistrian region must become a strategic priority for the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, while the development of evidence-based public policies, institutional coordination, and human rights protection is essential for ensuring sustainable and lasting reintegration.
“The reintegration of the Transnistrian region cannot be reduced solely to a political or administrative dimension. It is essential that this process be built around human rights, the strengthening of social trust, and the capacity of state institutions to respond to the complex challenges generated by more than three decades of separation and isolation,” emphasized Vadim Vieru.
The publications presented at the event can be consulted on the Promo-LEX Association website here:
The event was organized by Promo-LEX with financial support provided by Fundația Soros Moldova and National Endowment for Democracy. The opinions expressed during the event do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of the Soros Foundation Moldova and the National Endowment for Democracy.