UN Moldova announces the launch of the Competition for the UN Human Rights Awards 2023

The competition aims to highlight and reward the most creative, innovative, effective, timely and participatory initiatives and actions for the protection and promotion of human rights in the Republic of Moldova on both banks of Nistru River. The 2023 competition includes three awards as it follows:

• General Award for an Outstanding Human Rights Achievement at national and/or local level between January 2022 and 6 November 2023 – award for general promotion of human rights at national and/or local level on both banks of Nistru river (individuals and legal entities are eligible for this award);
• Special Award for Outstanding Human Rights Achievement in supporting the refugee response between February 2022 and 6 November 2023 – awards for best actions and initiatives to promote and respect human rights of refugees from Ukraine, on both banks of Nistru river (individuals and legal entities are eligible for this award);
• Special Award for Outstanding Human Rights Achievement for active involvement in the promotion of youth participation between January 2022 and 6 November 2023 – award for actions which contributed outstandingly to promoting and supporting inclusive and meaningful participation of youth, including most vulnerable youth (individual and legal entities are eligible for this award).

The nominations for any of the above-mentioned awards can be submitted online: fill in the nomination form here, in Romanian, Russian, English or in another minority language spread in the Republic of Moldova (in this case, Romanian or Russian will be selected as appropriate, and answers will be given in the minority language).

The nomination should cover nominee’s/self-nominee’s human rights work during the period January 2022 and 6 November 2023, except for the Award for Outstanding Human Rights Achievement in supporting the refugee response that should cover the period 24 February 2022 to 6 November 2023.

Both third-party and self-nominations are accepted.

All submitted nominations should include the following information:

• The name of the nominated person or entity, including contact information;
• Details as to the relationship between the nominating person or entity, and the nominated person or entity;
• Detailed reasoning as to why the person, organisation or entity should be provided with an award. An indicative length for the detailed reasoning is 750-2000 words. In providing the detailed reasoning, due regard should be given to:

1. Explaining, in clear, factual language, why the nominee should receive a human rights award (providing relevant factual description of the acts undertaken by the nominee which merit award); 
2. Reflecting on the nominee’s human rights work considering the selection criteria (human rights impact, innovation and creativity, dedication and commitment, bravery in addressing difficult themes or issues, outreach and visibility, professionalism and highest standards of ethics).
3. Mention of the category under which the nomination should be  considered.

Please note: The nomination category can be changed by the Independent Awards Board, if considered necessary.

The nominated candidates should not have received UN Moldova Human Rights Awards in the last 4 years. Also, the actions that form the object of award should not have been implemented by means of UN funding and/or with UN entities’ support.   

For more details on the nomination process, please consult the Regulation on the organization and conduct of the competition for best actions to promote and protect human rights for UN Human Rights Awards 2023.

The completed Nomination forms can be submitted online with confirmation of nomination submission to the email address rco.moldova@un.org . The deadline for the registration of candidates is November 6, 2023, 18:00 o’clock.

All the materials of nominated persons or entities, received within the public call, as well as, during the analysis of other available materials, will be judged by a team of experts and an independent Board, made up of representatives of international organizations and missions and independent experts.

The Nominations/self-nominations will be assessed according to criteria including the following:

• Human rights impact;
• Innovation and creativity;
• Dedication and commitment;
• Bravery in addressing difficult themes or issues;
• Outreach and visibility;
• Professionalism and compliance with the highest standards of ethics.

Award winners do not have to necessarily fulfil all the above criteria.

The winners of the competition will be announced and awarded at the 2023 UN Human Rights Awards Gala, organized annually on the occasion of the anniversary of International Human Rights Day. This year, the event will be organized on December 8, 2023.