The Rural-Urban Divide in Moldova – Main Hindrance to Fulfilling the Economic and Social Rights, According to the UN

One of the UN Committee recommendations referred to the rural-urban divide in Moldova. The Committee highlighted that the economic and social development of Moldova lies in poverty elimination of in the rural area, since poverty prevails in villages and without village-oriented actions no advancement of the country may be achieved.

”The Committee remains concerned that poverty still pervasive particularly in the rural areas and among pensioners. It is also concerned that the Ajutor social cash transfer programme, the main poverty reduction programme of the State party, covers only half of the eligible persons, that the amounts of the benefits are far below the minimum subsistence level, and that the eligibility criteria are overly restrictive. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts to combat poverty with a special focus on the persons in the rural areas and pensioners. It also urges the State party ensure that the Ajutor social cash transfer programme covers all eligible persons” sets out the report issued by the UN.

The Committee appeared concerned and made detailed recommendations in the following challenging areas: eliminate the social and economic inequalities between the rural and urban areas; increase the minimum wage in the public sector and adjust it to the cost of living, and sanction employers who fail to pay minimum wages; monitor the social services provided by local government and coordinate them with the central government; increase the level of public expenditure on social security, housing, water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

The Committee also recommended to strengthen the enforcement of anti-corruption laws and combat impunity for corruption involving high-level officials; adopt the “zipper system” in candidates’ lists for decision-making positions in the public sector; ensure the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services to persons with disabilities, older persons and persons living in the rural areas; improve the quality of healthcare services and put in place regulatory mechanisms of public health facilities;

We remind that Republic of Moldova ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1997. Periodically the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) considers country reports on the observance of the provisions of the International Covenant. Last time Moldova was reviewed at CESCR in September 2017.