It is two years since the adoption of the Law on Equality of Chances, but the phenomenon of discrimination continues to persist in Moldova. The subject was discussed in a roundtable meeting held to launch the project “Strengthening the capacity of civil society of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, in combating discrimination through advocacy activities”, which is implemented by Promo-LEX Association and The Equal Rights Trust, IPN reports.
The project will be implemented until June 2016. From December until now, there were made researches to identity all the aspects and sectors that must be covered.
Promo-LEX project coordinator Olga Manole said the researches revealed that discrimination on grounds of disability and sexual orientation prevail. There were also identified cases of discrimination on grounds of age and against beneficiaries of state institutions, but these cases are often hushed up. The people from Transnistrian are discriminated by the constitutional authorities because their access to different public services, justice, etc. is not ensured.
Jim Fitzerald, head of the Advocacy Service of The Equal Rights Trust, said there are deficiencies in Moldova as regards the ensuring of equality, but they will not be removed without an additional effort, especially on the part of civil society.
Andrei Brighidin, a member of the Council for the Prevention and Combating of Discrimination, said the project will simulate the submission of complaints about discrimination by people from the eastern districts as the Council can examine them too.
The project includes the carrying out of two initial studies on the phenomenon of discrimination in Moldova, roundtable meetings and five workshops on the legal and political framework on equality.
