Moldovan President Maia Sandu said at the opening of the conference that it is a great honor for Moldova to host such an event, especially taking into account the importance of the declared topic
“We have learned from our country’s experience that social rights are crucial for the survival of democracy. In recent years, we have seen how fragile our institutions can be when social vulnerabilities are exploited. Our adversaries deliberately exploit poverty and frustration to undermine public confidence,” the President said.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset recalled the current crises and challenges in Europe and around the world.
“In these circumstances, it is especially important to invest in democratic security, in effective institutions, to ensure access to justice and to protect the social rights of our people. This is the best way to stabilize societies on our continent. And the fact that we can hold this conference here in Chisinau during the presidency of the Council of Europe is of particular importance. Thank you for organizing this event”.
Labor and Social Protection Minister Natalia Plugaru said that for Moldova, which is in the process of accession to the European Union, social rights are a priority – both for the country as a whole and for the Labor and Social Protection Ministry:
“The protection of vulnerable categories of citizens and the necessary support we provide to Moldovan citizens for a better, dignified life here at home come first.”
The day before, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, participated in the conference “Roma and the future of labor: the perspective of social rights”.
The head of state said that discrimination against Roma remains a widespread problem in many European countries, including Moldova. In this context, the president stressed the need for concrete and more targeted measures to integrate Roma into the labor market, as well as initiatives aimed at youth and support for entrepreneurship.
The head of state also said that the green and digital transition should be inclusive, while the benefits of the European integration should be enjoyed by all citizens, regardless of their origin.
The Conference in Chisinau is attended by ministers and high-level officials responsible for social rights and social policies, leaders of the Council of Europe, representatives of European Union institutions, the United Nations and the International Labour Organization, as well as representatives of civil society, social partners, academia, national human rights organizations, equality bodies and their European networks.
