Centrul de Justiție Socială ”ECHITATE”
Budget
€73,000
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
10
2.95 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The Social Justice Center ECHITATE in Criuleni is a community-based organization dedicated to promoting social justice, equity, and civic participation. Its mission is to ensure equal access to justice, resources, and opportunities for all, especially vulnerable groups. The Center provides free legal aid, advocates for transparency and participatory budgeting, and fosters dialogue between citizens and local authorities. Through civic education, youth engagement, and community initiatives, ECHITATE strengthens solidarity, inclusion, and accountability. By building partnerships locally and internationally, the organization contributes to a fairer, more resilient society where citizen voices are respected and social equity becomes a lived reality.
EU Legislative Interests
The Social Justice Center ECHITATE focuses its activities on EU legislative proposals and policies related to justice and fundamental rights, social inclusion, transparency in governance, and regional development. Our work is aligned with the objectives of the European Union in promoting democracy, rule of law, and civic participation within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. A central priority concerns EU initiatives on justice and fundamental rights, particularly legislation ensuring equal access to justice, protection of vulnerable groups, and non-discrimination. ECHITATE advocates for the implementation of EU principles on human rights, equality before the law, gender equality, and the inclusion of minorities and persons with disabilities. By providing free legal aid and community-based legal education, our organisation supports citizens in exercising their rights, while also contributing to aligning national practices with EU justice standards. In the field of transparency and anti-corruption, ECHITATE actively follows and promotes EU frameworks aimed at strengthening open governance and accountability. We support policies that require transparent management of public funds, citizen participation in budgetary processes, and effective monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of resources. Through participatory budgeting initiatives, we bring EU principles closer to local communities, encouraging citizens to take part in decisions about local development priorities and resource allocation. Another important area of interest is social inclusion and equality, in line with EU strategies for combating poverty and exclusion. Our organisation advocates for policies that address the needs of vulnerable communities, including children, women, minorities, and economically disadvantaged households. We work to ensure that these groups are not left behind in policy-making and that EU social equity standards are applied at the local level. We also contribute to raising awareness of EU anti-discrimination policies, such as those protecting LGBTIQ+ persons and promoting equal opportunities for all citizens. In summary, the EU policies and legislative proposals targeted by the Social Justice Center ECHITATE include: initiatives on justice and fundamental rights, equality and non-discrimination, transparency and anti-corruption, social inclusion, cohesion and regional policy, and the European Neighbourhood Policy. Through advocacy, legal assistance, community mobilisation, and policy dialogue, we ensure that EU values are not only formally recognised but also implemented in practice, contributing to a more democratic, fair, and resilient society in Moldova. We target specific EU policy initiatives related to social inclusion, equality, and access to justice, including: EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030; EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025; EU Rule of Law Mechanism; European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan; EU Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2021). These are the main EU policy frameworks relevant to our advocacy, monitoring, and awareness-raising work
Communication Activities
“Bugetare echitabilă și responsabilă” – workshops in Criuleni and Dubăsari with local authorities and citizens on participatory budgeting, aligned with EU cohesion and transparency principles. Legal aid awareness campaign – distribution of flyers, posters, and social media content informing vulnerable groups about access to free legal aid, in line with EU justice and fundamental rights policies. “Săptămâna Bunătății” (Kindness Week) – annual civic event with schools and youth groups promoting solidarity, inclusion, and EU values of social cohesion. Public debates and roundtables – discussions with local councillors, police, and NGOs on anti-corruption and open governance, echoing EU transparency frameworks. Training sessions for youth councils (CLT/CRT Dubăsari, Criuleni) – on civic participation, equality, and the role of EU in promoting democratic governance. Analytical reports and publications – monitoring of local public budgets and policy recommendations presented in accessible reports and disseminated to communities and media.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
Membership and affiliation: National Platform for the Development of Philanthropy (Platforma națională de dezvoltare a filantropiei) Eastern European Platform M (Platforma est-europeană ) National NGO Council (Consiliul Național al ONG-urilor)
Organisation Members
Our organisation does not have formal members that are legal entities. However, we collaborate closely with public authorities, civil society organisations, and local communities in the Security Zone (Criuleni and Dubăsari).
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.