UN Moldova announces the launch of the Competition for the UN Human Rights Awards 2024

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 2024 competition includes three awards as it follows:

• General award for an outstanding human rights achievement at national and/or local level with direct and sustainable impact on rights holders;
• Special award for outstanding human rights achievement in protection and promotion of the rights of children, especially children belonging to marginalized groups, in the context of 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
• Special award for remarkable achievement in promoting gender equality and women empowerment, in the context of 30th anniversary of the ratification by Moldova of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against.

The nominations for any of the above-mentioned awards can be submitted online by filling in the Nomination Form available in Romanian, Russian, English or in another minority languages 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 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024.

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 2024.

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 3 November 2024, 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 during an event organized on the occasion of the anniversary of International Human Rights Day.