[JURIST] The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday implored the Moldovan government [official website] to adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law [statement]. The proposed law, in development since 2008, is seen as a large step forward for religious minorities, the Roma population and LGBT rights in the nation. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, noted that:

One of the most contentious provisions of the law is that it will outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Given the hostility facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in Moldova, including hate speech by politicians and public officials, it is imperative that this provision remain in the law. As the High Commissioner has repeatedly stressed, acts of discrimination and violence against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people are violations of international human rights law and must be outlawed.

The Moldovan parliament is currently studying and debating the law.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile], has been vocal in her support [JURIST report] of this law’s implementation since her visit to the Eastern European nation last November. Moldova has taken several steps in recent years to become a more democratic nation. Last year the country joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] after becoming the 114th signatory to the Rome Statute [JURIST report] in October 2010. During her visit last year, Pillay observed that the “country is clearly on the road to strengthening its democracy, and aims at a number of ambitious reforms” despite the current lack of human rights enforcement for certain segments of the population.