The Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Assuring Equality is worried by the attitude of society and authorities towards disabled people and often discriminate them. The Council chairman, Oxana Gumennaia, told a press conference at IPN on Tuesday, December 9, that Moldova has very good laws regarding the protection of disable people, but these laws are often applied deficiently.
“The Council is worried that the decisions defending the rights of disabled people are contested in court and we lose trials in higher courts. We have signed many international documents and have very good laws defending disabled people, but despite all this, problems persist”, said Oxana Gumennaia.
Lucia Gavrilita, member of the Council, said that our society isn't ready to understand why a disabled person is like any other person and must enjoy his or her full rights.
Doina Ioana Straisteanu, member of the Council, remarked that people with mental or intellectual disabilities are discriminated the most, even by their court-appointed lawyers.
The Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Assuring Equality is a public autonomous authority, a body with 5 members appointed by the Moldovan Parliament for 5-year terms.
After a year and half of activity, the Council received 191 complaints and took 70 decisions, including 14 concerning disability-related discrimination.
