The Comrat-based European Center “Pro-Europa” has launched debates in the town, centering on the right to vote of the persons with special needs. It thus decided to create a platform for discussions with society about the voting possibilities for such persons, IPN reports.
Elena Mina, project assistant at the Center “Pro-Europa”, said that the first round of debates involved over 40 persons, mainly young people who study at the Comrat College “M. Chiakir”. Through interactive discussions, the participants were told about the experience of integrating persons with special needs into the electoral process. There was also studied the experience of the EU member states in this area and presented the special technique that helps the persons with special needs to move.
Victor Coroli, executive director of the Alliance “Infonet”, has told IPN that the observance of the rights of persons with special needs in Moldova is a system problem because emphasis is laid more on the needs of the system rather than on those of the people. When monitoring these persons’ right to vote, one can see the problems faced by them daily. “For example, in the parliamentary elections we monitored over 200 polling places. More than 70% of these were inaccessible to persons with locomotor disabilities, but these places were established inside schools, hospitals, nurseries. A question thus appears – how do these persons access these institutions in the day life?” said the expert.
In Moldova there are 183,000 persons with disabilities. Victor Coroli said that 120,000 of these could and want to work as they cannot earn their living with dignity. “The problem is complex. On the one hand, we see some of the authorities’ readiness to promote the rights of these persons. On the other hand, we see new and pompous constructions and parked cars that prevent the persons with disabilities from moving normally. Society should be more attentive and kind to those around,” he stated.
Expert Ion Emilian, of the Association “Motivatie”, said that such debates are welcome as both civil society and the authorities submit proposals for improving the exercise of the right to vote. But when these proposals are discussed with the people, they state other viewpoints and provide their own arguments.
Participant in the debates Tatiana Ianova said everyone should be able to exercise the right to vote. “I have looked for relevant information as the persons with special needs face problems not only in the electoral period, but also in the daily life. This theme is topical and the obtained information can be used in practice,” she stated.
Within the same project, the Center “Pro-Europa” in April will stage two more rounds of debates and two discussion clubs focusing on the possibilities offered by the EU to young people and for different professions, like that of teacher. The activities are possible owing to the support provided by USAID trough East Europe Foundation and FHI 360.
