UN Moldova announces the winners of the 2024 UN Human Rights Awards

Since 2004, the UN Country Team in Moldova has been organizing the annual Human Rights Awards to recognize and celebrate impactful human rights initiatives on both banks of the Nistru River. 

This year the awards ceremony took place during the third edition of the Human Rights and Equality Forum 2024, co-organized by the People’s Advocate Office and the Equality Council, with support from UN Moldova, the Refugee Coordination Forum and the Council of Europe.

“Human rights are about people. Human rights are about education and health, decent work and livable wages; they are about clean water and sanitation. This year’s Human Rights Day is also about the many refugees whose rights have been torn by war.” said Yesim Oruc, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova. “Do not let human rights become the fodder of petty politics, populist narratives, or geopolitical posturing. They are too valuable; they are too precious to become the plaything of fleeting ideologies or partisan politics.”

This year’s winners hail from across Moldova’s geography including from Balti, Chisinau and left bank of the Nistru river. Their work for protecting the rights of vulnerable persons, including children, women, refugees, migrants, older persons, and persons with disabilities fosters inclusive and peaceful development in keeping with Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Winners of the 2024 UN Human Rights Awards:

1. General Award for Outstanding Human Rights Achievement:

Union for Equity and Health 

2. 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: 

Association for the Empowerment of the Child and the Family "AVE Copii"

Special mention – Association "Алые паруса" (Scarlet Sails)

Special mention – Association "Aud și Vorbesc"

3. 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:

Association of Women Entrepreneurs from Moldova (AFAM)

The UN Human Rights Awards is an open and transparent competition, allowing individuals and organizations to self-nominate or nominate others in accordance with the awards’ regulations. Submissions are evaluated by an Independent Awards Board based on:

• Impact on human rights;
• Innovation and creativity;
• Dedication and commitment;
• Courage in addressing challenging issues;
• Visibility and outreach;
• Professionalism and adherence to ethical standards.

The event aligns with the Human Rights Day theme: “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” It is a call on everyone—government, civil society, development partners, and the private sector—to joint forces in placing human rights at the center of all policies, actions, and aspirations ensuring no one and no where is left behind.

About the UN Human Rights Awards

This year marked the 18th edition of the UN Human Rights Awards, supported by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and eight UN agencies: OHCHR, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNHCR, and WHO. The awards were not held only in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022, when efforts focused on the refugee response.