IDOM monitors parliamentary elections in psychiatric institutions

The Moldova Institute for Human Rights (IDOM) will carry out activities in psychiatric institutions to monitor the parliamentary elections there until April 30, 2009, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the IDOM. The project aims to ensure access to voting for the people in psychiatric hospitals. During monitoring visits, the IDOM established that the documents of a considerable number of hospitalized persons do not include the court decision about the person’ incapacity, but these persons are not guaranteed the constitutional right to vote. The IDOM will inform the Central Election Commission about this so that the patients’ access to voting is facilitated. The project will end with the publication of a report on the election processes in psychiatric institutions. Under the Election Code, the citizens of Moldova that turned 18, including on the election day, except those registered as disabled under definitive court decision and the persons sentenced to imprisonment for serious and extremely serious offences under definitive court decision, are eligible to vote. The IDOM activities are carried out as part of the project “Monitoring Access to Voting in Psychiatric Institutions in Moldova” supported by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and implemented in cooperation with the League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADOM). Both of the organizations are members of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections – Coalition 2009. Coalition 2009 is a voluntary union of NGOs setting the course to contribute to ensuring free, fair, transparent and democratic elections for the Parliament. It continues the activities promoting free and fair elections initiated by Coalition 2005 and Coalition 2007 and has over 60 NGO members.