A/HRC/34/53/Add.2
them and the regions where they live. 9 Furthermore, she emphasized that there are
numerous cost-effective methods to fulfil language rights, including translation of key
information, web-based resources targeted at minorities and policies of promoting training
of minorities and their recruitment at the national and local levels in public institutions. 10
C.
Names and denominations
37.
As a result of some amendments to the Law on the Identity Documents and the
National Passport System, the Special Rapporteur was informed that the current system for
the registration of names and surnames was permitted in the State language and in Latin
script only, therefore having an adverse impact on some minority languages. For instance,
as the Gagauz alphabet contains some letters that are pronounced differently from the State
language, name registration often results in misspelling and/or mispronunciation of
Gagauzian names and surnames. Furthermore, some Russian-speaking minority members
stated that it was no longer possible for individuals to insert their patronymic name —
which is part of the Russian cultural tradition — in their identity card.
D.
Health care
38.
Some interlocutors pointed to linguistic issues in the area of health care. For
instance, in Gagauzia the Special Rapporteur was informed that medicine leaflets were only
available in the State language. She was also made aware of the current administrative
territorial reorganization process, according to which the emergency care call centre in
Comrat would be moved to Cahul, outside the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia.
Concerns were expressed that such a move might pose a health risk, as a call centre outside
Gagauzia would not be able to process telephone calls made in Gagauz, as they are at
present.
V. Religious minorities
39.
The Republic of Moldova is home to a wide range of religions and belief groups,
and the rights of religious minorities seem to be to a large extent respected. Most of the
religious representatives consulted indicated that there was a peaceful coexistence among
religious groups, although they admitted that there was a lack of mutual knowledge and
exchange among them.11
40.
Concerns were expressed about the dominance of the Moldovan Orthodox Church
and its influence in determining societal morals and values. Some interlocutors regretted the
fact that, although the Moldovan Constitution enshrines in its article 31 a secular State, the
Orthodox Church appears to be given preferential treatment, including through tax
exemptions and donations of public property to build temples. It was noted that the explicit
acknowledgement in the 2007 Law on Freedom of Conscience, Thought and Belief of the
9
10
11
10
See A/HRC/22/49, para. 57.
Ibid., para. 77.
The Special Rapporteur was informed of a project called “Sources of Tolerance” organized by the
Diversitate Centre for Informal Education and some partners, consisting of an annual inter-ethnic
summer camp that brings together young people from various minority communities with the aim of
fostering inter-group tolerance and knowledge about the ethnic and religious diversity of the Republic
of Moldova. She welcomes the initiative as an example of good practice and stresses the need for
such measures in the Moldovan context.