The persons with disabilities continue to face numerous systemic problems at the local level, such as the lack of ramps at the entrance to public institutions and the deficient process of determining disability by the responsible bodies. A number of initiative groups initiated mini-advocacy campaigns within the Project to support the primary legal assistance accessible to persons with disabilities in the regions of Moldova that was launched by the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (CLAPD). The results of the project were presented in a news conference on May 22, IPN reports.
According to the executive director of the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Vitalie Mester, the objectives of the project center on two strategic areas: ensuring of access to primary legal assistance for persons with disabilities and bringing about of positive changes in the environs for persons with disabilities, including the ensuring of access to different institutions, social facilities and education institutions. Fifteen promoters from six regions of Moldova, namely Ungheni, Falesti, Orhei, Cantemir, Comrat, and Ceadar-Lunga, were engaged to conduct advocacy campaigns at the local level.
Lilian Darii, executive director of the National Center for State Guaranteed Legal Aid, said that together with the CLAPD, they pursue a common goal – to provide legal services for the population. The institution he represents is in the process of establishing high-quality standards for lawyers as regards the provision of the assistance needed by persons with mental disabilities. “This way we show that we want to have not only simple access to legal assistance, but also to high-quality legal assistance. Every time I welcomed the partnerships with those who provide specialized assistance as these easier identify the problems and provide the necessary specialized assistance,” stated Lilian Darii.
CLAPD advocacy consultant Olga Cenusa said 12 of the initiated 18 advocacy campaigns were successfully completed and six of these are being implemented. All the local promoters who took part in empowerment and involvement through advocacy benefitted from support from the Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities in cooperation with the local public authorities and were offered legal assistance. The results of the advocacy campaigns include the ensuring of access to public institutions for persons with disabilities by building ramps, repairing road sections or lowering curbs at crosswalks. The initiated advocacy activities are designed to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, with local promoters helping to solve the problems of these persons together with the local public authorities.
Elena Stajila, director of the CLAPD program “Defense of Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, said that legal assistance in July 2017 – April 2018 was provided in over 1,000 cases. One of the most serious findings is that the persons with disabilities are not informed about their rights and these are thus violated. Their right to personal assistance is also violated. The state institutions do not know that the persons with disabilities can ensure access to their homes with the assistance of the local public authorities. Among the main systemic problems identified are the issuing by the Council for Determining Disability and Work Capacity of unsubstantiated decisions, shortage of qualified kindergarten educators who could work with children with special needs, hampering of the persons with disabilities’ access to employment services, provision of electric wheelchairs, lack of medicines or offering of medical services with delay.
Persons with disabilities informed about a number of problems in public lectures that were held in 15 localities. They said they lack full social services, social benefits, appropriate accessibility conditions in public institutions and buildings, social apartments adjusted to their needs, etc.
Alexandra Gaunt, Deputy Head of Mission to Moldova, British Embassy in Chisinau, said the UK, through the Good Governance Fund was able to support this project to support free primary legal assistance for persons with disabilities in Moldova’s regions because it wants to promote good governance and to foster sustainable economic growth. It also aims to support the business community, to encourage transparency in decision-making and to reduce corruption. “The gender and inclusion problems are the key problems we address through this Fund and by our projects. The economic growth can ensure the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities. The persons with disabilities are a very important group of our society and they deserve to be treated in the same way as the other people are treated,” stated Alexandra Gaunt.
The project was implemented during the past 12 months. The persons with disabilities can further receive free legal assistance by calling 022 28 70 90 and 022022020 or by going to 16 Pushkin St in Chisinau, office 5.
