In July 2026, the OSCE Mission to Moldova co-organized two rounds of consultations in support of the development of a Guide on Integrating Equality and Human Rights Standards into School Textbooks. Both events were organized in co-ordination with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, with expert contributions from UN Human Rights Moldova (OHCHR), Amnesty International Moldova, the Office of the People's Advocate and the Equality Council.
During the consultations on 14-16 July and 28-30 July, over 50 textbook authors, evaluators, teachers, education specialists and human rights experts from all over the country took part in expert-led discussions and group exercises to exchange experiences and develop practical recommendations for the Guide. Participants worked together to refine the content of a practical resource for education professionals addressing key themes including gender equality, countering hate speech and violence, promoting a culture of tolerance and respect for the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious communities and persons with disabilities, as well as preventing age-based discrimination. Participants also discussed practical approaches to ensuring that educational materials are inclusive and reflective of human rights principles.
By bringing together diverse expertise, the consultations contributed to advancing inclusive, rights-based education and supporting the development of textbooks that foster respect, equality and non-discrimination for all learners.
"It is rewarding to know that our recommendations will help shape a practical guide that will support professionals involved throughout the textbook development process," noted one of the participants.
These events are part of the Mission's project "Enhancing inclusion and advancement of national minority rights in Moldova" implemented in view of the efforts to support the development of an inclusive society built on strong mechanisms that foster human rights, a culture of tolerance and trust.
