National legislation does not protect persons with disabilities from discrimination, IDOM

The Moldovan legislative acts that regulate the rights of the persons with disabilities do not meet the requirements, considers jurist of the Moldova Institute for Human Rights (IDOM) Radu Bobeica. In a news conference on November 9, he said the national legislation should be adjusted to the international norms, with the active involvement of the NGO sector, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The number of persons with disabilities is on the rise. Moldova assumed obligations as regards the inclusion of these persons, but does not fulfill them. There are more cases when these persons’ right to work and education, to preferential loans or rehabilitation are violated,” said Radu Bobeica. “The word ‘invalidity’ is itself discriminatory and should be changed. There should be a functional program intended for disabled persons who want to work and study. The communication between the state and the NGOs responsible for this sector leaves much to be desired. Civil society does not adequately take part in the adoption of laws centering on persons with disabilities,” said the jurist. IDOM program coordinator Natalia Mardari said a stereotype of the disabled persons was created in Moldova. “The institution managers and those who discriminate such persons should be told why the rights of these persons mustn’t be infringed,” she stated. Within a project started in September, the jurists of IDOM provided legal assistance to persons with disabilities whose rights were violated. The jurists said penalties for discrimination should be instituted in order to increase the equity decree and reduce the number of cases of discrimination against this group of people. In Moldova there are 179,000 persons with disabilities, 15,000 of whom are children.