When we embrace differences and nurture diversity, we raise an inclusive generation where everyone’s voice can be heard. It all starts in the family, then spreads to the community. Xenia Siminciuc, human rights officer at UN Human Rights, spoke about the importance of accepting and promoting diversity during a public discussion hosted by the National Library.
Xenia Siminciuc has poor eyesight since birth. She only sees 5% of what people around her see, but she tries to motivate others by her own example. The woman promotes the importance of abandoning stereotypes affecting parents or parents-to-be with disabilities. When she became pregnant, the doctors offered to terminate her pregnancy, but she refused. “Sometimes doctors don’t think about the fact that words can influence the psychological state of the expectant mother. That’s why we have to be very careful about what we talk about, what terminology we use and how we communicate with mothers. When I gave birth to a healthy baby girl, I was extremely happy, but I remember that before this some of my family members had their doubts”, said Xenia Siminciuc.
She noted that the role of the family in the personal training of the child is essential. A disabled child needs to be supported by the parents to the same extent as a normal child. It is necessary to focus on abilities, not on disability. “Because of the discriminatory attitude, many people with disabilities are in a constant rush to prove something to society, which is not at all easy and affects the emotional state of people”, said Xenia Siminciuc.
Elena Pintilei, general director of the National Library, stated that the family remains that segment of society where young people are formed. Our citizen of tomorrow depends on the well-being of the family. “We are a Christian people who believe in the importance of the family, we love our parents, we respect our grandparents. This is specific to our people, especially to those in Bessarabia, and I would like it to remain that way”, said Pintilei.
A number of young people participated in the event, and they were informed about the international and national standards regarding the family, the right to a family of people with disabilities, the promotion of the acceptance of diverse families in society, the importance of protection in the case of family violence. The young people also participated in an exercise on the effect of social labels on a person’s psychological state.
In the context of International Day of Families on May 15, the National Library is also hosting a thematic exhibition: “Family – the fundamental factor in the development of society”. It includes 120 publications that reflect family law, strategies and programs for educating children, ways and benefits of collaboration between school and family, demographic trends, including aging and intergenerational solidarity.
The International Day of Families was established by the United Nations in 1993 as a way to raise awareness of the issues facing families around the world and to highlight the important role families play in society. In the Republic of Moldova, Family Day has been officially celebrated since 2010.
