ADVANCE QUESTIONS TO THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA (SECOND BATCH) PANAMA      Has the Republic of Moldova any future plans to sign the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action? What measures are being implemented to eliminate stigmatization of and discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities? What steps have been to address the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and discriminatory stereotypes concerning the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society? Could the Republic of Moldova further elaborate on efforts undertaken to tackle the high prevalence of gender-based violence against women, including domestic violence and economic and psychosocial violence? What actions have been taken to ensure a protective environment for children in street situations and unaccompanied or separated asylum-seeking children? UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND      What measures has Moldova taken to increase the independence and transparency of State institutions at all levels in line with the 2019 recommendations by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders? Building on the election of a female President, a Parliament with 40% female representation in line with the law, and the appointment of a female Prime Minister, what plans does Moldova have to further increase the participation of women in decision making bodies at all levels both in public and political life? What steps and measures is Moldova taking to combat hate crimes against marginalised groups and ensure adequate training for officials on how to combat these crimes? What steps will Moldova take in the short and medium term to ensure its prisons meet international standards, as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights and elsewhere? What is the Government of Moldova’s approach to ensuring respect for, and the protection of, human rights in the Transnistrian region of the country, which is currently outside the de facto control of the authorities in Chisinau? BELGIUM  Is the government of Moldova considering ratifying the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED), as well as the Optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR-OP), the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a     communication procedure (CRC-OP-IC) and the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD-OP)? Belgium congratulates the government of Moldova with the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). Which concrete measures will the government take to ensure the effective implementation of this Convention regarding prevention, protection, prosecution and coordinated policies? Is the government considering the adoption of a national action plan against gender-based violence? Which concrete efforts will the government of Moldova take to improve the worrying human rights situation in the Transnistrian region? Which follow-up has the government of Moldova given to the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s recommendations regarding abuse, neglect and exploitation? Which concrete measures will the government of Moldova take to tackle hate speech and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity and to ensure that hate crimes are thoroughly investigated and perpetrators are brought to justice?