YOUNG RESEARCHERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEBATES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGITAL DEMOCRACY
On 12 December 2025, the second day of the 10th edition of the International Conference “State, Security and Human Rights in the Digital Era” turned the spotlight on the new generation through the Young Researchers’ Workshop, dedicated to the relationship between human rights, democracy, and the technologies that are reshaping the rules of public life. Organized by the Department of Public Law of the Faculty of Law, Moldova State University, and the Scientific Research Laboratory “Comparative Public Law and E-Governance,” the event benefited from the support of the Hanns Seidel Stiftung (Republic of Moldova), whose contribution strengthened the international dimension of the debates and fostered academic dialogue on pressing contemporary issues.
Held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation, the workshop brought together students and master’s candidates from Moldova State University and the University of Warsaw, creating a rare blend of academic rigor, intellectual courage, and questions that can no longer be postponed. Particular attention was drawn to the Polish delegation, represented by students and young researchers from the University of Warsaw, among whom Mateusz Traczuk stood out, later being nominated for an outstanding contribution to the debate on national security. The sessions were opened by Natalia Creciun, Radu Mereniuc, and Doina Cuciurca, while the international academic component was further strengthened by the involvement of Dr. Jarosław Turłukowski, Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw (Poland), who supported comparative dialogue and encouraged a critical engagement with European trends in the field.
Panel 8 – “Human Rights and Democracy in the Digital Era: Challenges and Opportunities” – focused on the core issues of the contemporary agenda: how to maintain a balance between state security and fundamental rights; the limits of digital surveillance; the impact of artificial intelligence on the rule of law and the integrity of electoral processes; the boundaries between personal data protection and vulnerability; the risks posed by deepfakes and information warfare; as well as the opportunities opened by blockchain technologies, electronic signatures, smart contracts, and freedom of expression in the digital space.
In the spirit of recognizing merit and encouraging academic excellence, certificates were awarded to students nominated in the following categories:
- Best Public Presentation – Ionela Duhlicher, Moldova State University;
- Best Comparative Analysis – Andrei Costov and Gabriel Chiriac, Moldova State University;
- Interdisciplinary Approach – Mihai Sosidca, Moldova State University;
- Audience Choice – Gabriela Gorea, Moldova State University;
- Active Involvement and Critical Spirit within the Conference – Georgia Babinciuc and Cristina Țaca, Moldova State University;
- Outstanding Contribution to the Debate on National Security – Mateusz Traczuk, University of Warsaw, Poland.
Through the maturity of the interventions and the energy of a forward-looking vision, the workshop reaffirmed the role of this anniversary edition of the conference as a genuine platform for training, dialogue, and the consolidation of legal culture in the field of human rights and governance in the digital era. The contributions presented will be further reflected in the conference proceedings.
