At the time of writing, the Office was in the final stage of negotiations to deploy a human rights adviser, jointly-funded with the UN Country Team, by the end of 2007. Since the UN Country Team emphasizes the integration of human rights principles, standards and values in its development programmes, the Human Rights Adviser will work with the Resident Coordinator and the Country Team to develop strategies to build and strengthen national capacities and institutions to promote and protect human rights, particularly through UN development programmes.

The Adviser will map the UN agencies’ development interventions in human rights and national capacities to promote and protect human rights, and will help the Country Team coordinate a comprehensive assessment of the use of the rights-based approach. This assessment will include an analysis of UN programmes and projects from a human rights perspective. Efforts will be made to increase participation of national and local stakeholders in international human rights mechanisms, including treaty body reporting and special procedures. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will consider Moldova’s State report during its 72nd session in February-March 2008.