Marked on June 20, World Refugee Day was celebrated this year in a unique way: refugee children alongside representatives of national authorities, of diplomatic missions and civil society met at an art workshop in the courtyard of the National Institute of Justice.
Organized in partnership with the Council of Europe project „Strengthening the human rights protection of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova”, the event aimed at raising awareness, increase understanding and drawing attention to rights, the needs and challenges faced by refugees in our country.
During the workshop spoke: Giulia Re, ad interim Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, Ecaterina Popa, ad interim Director of the National Institute of Justice, H.E. Marko Shevchenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova, Jana Costachi, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile CUSCA, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, Oxana Gumennaia, Deputy of the People's Advocate, Svetlana Jioara, Program Director at the Law Center of Lawyers, Katherine Lampe, Child Protection Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Abdurashid Saidov, beneficiary of temporary protection in the Republic of Moldova. Speakers sent several messages assessing the courage of millions of people who had to flee their country of origin and their desire to integrate into the societies that they sheltered. The efforts of national authorities to ensure the protection of human rights for refugees were also mentioned.
Under the guidance of artist Valeria Barbas, participants painted cotton bags with acrylic paints, so that they could later be offered to families in the Republic of Moldova who opened their homes for refugees. During the event, a recital of poetry and songs resounded in the NIJ courtyard performed by refugee children from Ukraine, Syria, Angola and Burundi. The atmosphere was also maintained by a group of students of the Theoretical High School „Onisifor Ghibu" from Chisinau who delighted the audience with instrumental music.
