The Baltic Human Rights Society (BHRS) is pleased to announce the commencement of its new project, "Human Rights Education – a Tool to Fight Disinformation and Protect Freedom of Expression," aimed at strengthening human rights and media freedom in Moldova. This initiative, funded by the Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of Lithuania, will run for 24 months.
Moldova currently faces considerable challenges from targeted disinformation campaigns, particularly those originating from Russia, which threaten the nation's social stability and democratic processes. This project addresses these issues by expanding human rights education and providing essential tools related to media and hate speech.
A cornerstone of the project is the expansion of the Human Rights Guide in Moldova to include themes on Freedom of Expression & Media and Hate Crimes & Hate Speech. This will be complemented by the development of online tests to assess user knowledge and the preparation of additional case summaries to aid both professional and casual users.
Beyond educational tools, the project will conduct a thorough analysis of Moldovan laws concerning freedom of expression and disinformation, offering recommendations for legislative improvements and advocating for their implementation. Furthermore, a study will be carried out to identify the specific human rights education needs of media professionals, informing future training programs.
"This project is an important step towards empowering Moldovan citizens with human rights knowledge and strengthening the media's vital role in protecting democracy," said Eitvydas Zurba, Head of the Human Rights Guide Network. "By equipping media professionals to combat disinformation, we are contributing to a more resilient and informed Moldovan society, especially as it progresses towards EU integration."
BHRS will collaborate closely with its main partner in Moldova, the Human Rights Embassy, based in Chișinău. This partnership will ensure the project's activities are tailored to the local context and effectively reach target groups, including media representatives, civil society organizations, government officials, academia, and the public.
The project aligns with development cooperation policies of Lithuania and other Baltic states by supporting democratic reforms and human rights, building civil society capacity, and strengthening democratic institutions in Eastern Partnership countries.
The Human Rights Guide platform will remain accessible online as a continuous resource for human rights education even after the project concludes. This commitment to sustainability, coupled with strategic partnerships and public dissemination of results, ensures the long-term impact of this initiative in Moldova.
The project is supported by Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central project management agency through the Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of Lithuania (No NPAD-2024/10147).
