Protection of environmental defenders – priority discussed at European level, with Moldova's participation

The EcoContact Public Association, host of the Aarhus Environmental Information and Consultation Center from Chisinau, has participated in the Annual Meeting of the Aarhus Centers 2025, organized by the OSCE – The Office of the Coordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities, at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The event brought together representatives of Aarhus Centers from over 15 countries, experts from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), as well as specialists from OSCE missions and structures. The main topics of discussion focused on the protection of environmental defenders, access to justice and strengthening participatory environmental governance internationally.

At the meeting on the protection of environmental defenders, legal consultant Anna Cazacu presented the experience of the Aarhus Center Chisinau in providing legal assistance, training and practical tools for citizens, civic activists and authorities. She emphasized the importance of interinstitutional cooperation and the practical application of the principles of the Aarhus Convention, which guarantees the public's right to information, participation and justice in environmental matters.

“Through the activity of the Aarhus Center Chisinau, we aim for people and communities to know and defend their environmental rights. In the past two years, we have provided legal support in cases concerning the use of natural resources, developed practical guides for environmental defenders and trained representatives of the Ombudsman and local authorities,” declared Anna Cazacu.

In the context, Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, expressed his openness to collaborate with the Aarhus Center Chisinau, in order to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of environmental defenders in Moldova.

The meeting in Vienna included sessions dedicated to access to justice in environmental matters, as well as community-level disaster risk reduction, with the participation of experts from Austria, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan and other OSCE member states.

Over the years 2024–2025, the EcoContact public association, through the Aarhus Center, has provided over 50 legal consultations and supported lawsuits regarding access to information, public participation and the protection of natural resources.

At the same time, educational tools and legal guidance materials adapted to local communities have been developed.

The participation of EcoContact in this international forum contributes to strengthening the regional Aarhus network and promoting constructive cooperation between authorities, civil society and international partners, in order to develop transparent, inclusive and sustainable environmental governance.