Deadline extended: UN Moldova opens the call for candidates for the UN Human Rights Awards 2025

The United Nations (UN) in the Republic of Moldova is launching the 19th edition of the competition for the UN Human Rights Awards 2025 with the aim of marking the most valuable actions to promote and protect human rights in the Republic of Moldova.

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 Dniester/Nistru River. The 2025 competition includes three awards as follows:

1. General award for an outstanding and sustainable human rights achievement at national and/or local level with direct and sustainable impact on rights holders;
2. Special award for remarkable achievement in promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, in the context of 15th anniversary of the ratification by Moldova of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD);
3. Special award for an outstanding achievement at national or local level in protection and promotion of the Rights of Persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities and refugees, including the context of 60-th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The nominations for any of the above-mentioned awards can be submitted online: COMPLETE THE NOMINATION FORM, 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 1 November 2024 – 21 November 2025.

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. 

For more details on the nomination process, please consult the REGULATIONS on the organization and conduct of the COMPETITION FOR BEST ACTIONS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS 2025.

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 27 November 2025, 18:00.

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 an independent Board, made up of representatives of international organizations and missions and independent experts.

Results of the competition will be made public during the International Human Rights Day.

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Russian version of the press release HERE