The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in Moldova have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce their commitment to collaborate in addressing the nation's evolving security challenges.
UNICRI Director, Antonia De Meo, and Moldova’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ana Revenco, signed the MoU on 29 March 2023, emphasizing the importance of tailored technical assistance and flexibility to address the country's specific security challenges.
In line with the MoU, in 2023 UNICRI will support the MIA in providing crucial training to law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to the rapidly changing regional security context. These activities will lay a solid foundation for continued assistance in 2024 and 2025 to the MIA, General Police Inspectorate, and Stefan cel Mare Police Academy. This partnership will help these institutions fulfil their internal modernization efforts and strategic objectives in line with international best practices.
Minister Revenco emphasized that Moldova is on the front line of providing security for the region and Europe. “We have shown, over the past year, our resilience and dedication to respond to extraordinary challenges related to the complex hybrid war. This partnership with UNICRI will allow MIA to access highly specialized tools and approaches we need to meet urgent security demands,” she said.
This was reinforced by Ms. De Meo, who stressed the significance of the partnership for Moldova and the region. "UNICRI's collaboration with Moldova's Ministry of Internal Affairs is a testament to our shared commitment to creating a safer and more secure environment for the people of Moldova. UNICRI is proud to apply its specialized expertise in crime prevention and criminal justice to tailor solutions that make a lasting impact in response to the unique challenges of the country," she said.
The MoU signifies a crucial step in fostering a collaborative relationship between UNICRI and Moldova's MIA, showcasing both parties’ commitment to address the country's security challenges through tailored technical assistance and capacity building.
Prior to signing the MoU, Ms. De Meo had a series of meetings with key partners, which included a roundtable discussion with the diplomatic community in Moldova on 24 March and bilateral meetings to discuss specific support with ambassadors from Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom on 28 March. The roundtable discussion, hosted by UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, Simon Springett, discussed crime prevention, justice, and security, including asset recovery and the nexus between conflict and organized crime. The timely conversation also highlighted the impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova.
After the signing ceremony, Ms. De Meo met H.E. Ruslan Bolbocean, Secretary-of-State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moldova. She expressed UNICRI’s appreciation of the partnership with the Moldovan authorities and reiterated the Institute’s commitment to support Moldova’s security sector, especially in light of the regional challenges caused by the war in Ukraine.
UNICRI is proud to support Moldova as part of the new Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027, sharing expertise in crime prevention, justice, and security. This will contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Moldova, particularly SDG16 related to peace, justice, and strong institutions, in line with UNICRI's Strategic Programme Framework.
