National Forum of Ethnic Minorities 2024
The National Forum of Ethnic Minorities is the largest official event dedicated to the issues of national, ethnic, and linguistic minorities in the Republic of Moldova. Organized by the Center for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities, the forum serves as an essential platform for dialogue and collaboration across various sectors of society. The main priority is to consolidate efforts between national and regional authorities, civil society representatives, media, human rights defenders, ethnic organization leaders, and development partners.
Goals and Objectives:
The forum aims to identify the main challenges faced by ethnic groups in Moldova and develop solutions for addressing them. Throughout the event, we seek to create a space for discussions on ethnic group integration, rights protection, and civil society development. We emphasize the importance of involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure community democratization and equal representation of all ethnic groups.
Main Priorities:
•Consolidation and Unification: The forum aims to create a unified platform for interaction between different social actors. Bringing efforts together will allow for more effective solutions to the problems faced by ethnic minorities and create conditions for their integration.
•Integration of Ethnic Groups: One of the main priorities of the forum is to support the integration of ethnic groups into the country’s social life. We see integration as an important step toward strengthening social cohesion and understanding among various cultural groups.
•Promotion of Minority Rights: We actively work to protect the rights of ethnic minorities, raising issues concerning their rights and freedoms at the state and public level. This includes both legislative changes and practical recommendations for improving the situation of ethnic groups.
•Development of Civil Society and Participation in Decision-Making: The forum also aims to increase citizen participation in decision-making processes. We believe that an active civil society is the foundation of a democratic society and a crucial factor for sustainable development.
•Community Democratization: Our goal is to promote the democratic development of communities by ensuring representation for all groups and creating conditions for their active participation in public life.
The National Forum of Ethnic Minorities is not just an event but an important step towards creating an inclusive and fair society in the Republic of Moldova. We believe that the joint efforts of all participants will help to identify effective solutions for improving the quality of life of ethnic minorities, protecting their rights, and strengthening civil society. We look forward to the active involvement of all stakeholders in this important process and are confident that together we can create a better future for all citizens of our country.
In 2024, the forum brought together remarkable personalities from various fields to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing ethnic communities in the Republic of Moldova. The participation of high-ranking officials helps to create a favorable atmosphere for discussing the most important issues regarding the protection of ethnic minority rights and their participation in the country’s public and political life.
Main Topics of the Forum:
1.EU Legislation and Policies Regarding National Minorities
2.Education, Cultural Diversity, and Minority Rights in a European Moldova Context
3.The Role of Media, Civil Society, and Youth in Ethnic Communities
4.Economic and Social Development of Ethnic Communities with EU Support
Participants not only had the opportunity to exchange ideas and proposals but also contributed to drafting and signing the joint declaration “Ethnic Minorities FOR the EU.” The forum concluded with the presentation of the Center for Civic Initiatives’ report on the issues within ethnic communities and the discussion of next steps for addressing them as part of Moldova’s EU integration.
