With highs and lows, 2017 is nearing its end. It is a good time for conclusions. On this occasion, IPN has gathered good thought from all over the globe, this time only good thoughts, from decision-makers and from those on the receiving end of these decisions. What good has come of 2017? This is the question we posed to the people who have accepted to join us in our pursuit of the good in our surroundings and in the events that affect us. Although many things do not follow our wishes, winners are the people and societies that learn to see challenges and lesser things as extra opportunities to get involved and make things better. For each of the topics we approach, we provide rankings that reflect the opinions of those who developed them. Read further to see what good has come of 2017 with regards to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.

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As ranked by the “Motivație” Association:

1. The adoption of the Law on the regulation of social entrepreneurship.

“This will allow for growth in this field, through the development of social enterprises, which will in turn generate permanent or transitional jobs for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The Association “Motivație” of Moldova, in partnership with CSO Eco-Răzeni, has supported the secretariat of the Platform for the promotion of Social Entrepreneurship - the platform that has promoted this project. “Motivație” contracted the expert who developed this Bill and organized the consultancy meetings.”

2. “Motivație” has concluded a three-year project, during which it has developed and promoted the Assisted Employment concept, and has in 2016 managed to develop a draft of the Regulations on Assisted Employment.

“Due to the Government reform, we haven’t managed to promote the adoption of this Regulations bill within the Cabinet. We will do it next year. Until now, he have helped over 70 disabled youth to find employment, meaning 70 members of the society have become more active, have gained financial independence.”

3. Promotion of free access to justice, through protests and lawsuits against the Central district head’s office, Ciocana and Central Courts.

“These activities were organized alongside the Center for Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities. Points of access were created at the Central district head’s office. The Superior Court of Magistrates has issued an order that requires all trial sessions that concern people with disabilities to be organized in accessible locations.”

4. Seven initiative groups have been created, comprised of persons with disabilities from different regions of Moldova.

“These will, in turn, promote respect towards the rights of people with disabilities, cooperate with or fight against the official authorities responsible for creating accessible conditions within the social infrastructure.”

5. The “Motivație” team has consulted during the development of several bills and construction standards.

“He have continually focused on the functionality of the Law and on the newest and most innovative solutions.”

As ranked by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Social Protection:

1. Approval of the signing of the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

2. Approval of the Regulation on the provision of professional rehabilitation services within the Republican Experimental Centre of Prosthesis, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (CREPOR) and of the Methodology for calculating professional rehabilitation service fees.

“The goal of professional rehabilitation services is to recover or compensate bodily malfunctions, and the work capacity of people with locomotor disabilities, who — due to health issues arising from various circumstances, obstacles and other contextual factors (ambient and personal) — can’t engage in labor according to his/her qualifications.”

3. Approval and implementation of the Concept of reforming the system of determining disability in the Republic of Moldova and the Concept Action Plan (for years 2017-2019).

4. Approval of the National Program for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities for years 2017-2022.

“This includes a cross-sector approach to the social inclusion of persons with disabilities and in ensuring their fundamental rights at levels equal to the rest of the citizens, in all aspects of social life.”

5. Implementation of transformation plans, with the goal of discharging through the procurement, with the use of residential institutions funding, of eight real estate properties and/or houses.

“Six safe houses have been opened, and 34 persons have been discharged. Two more houses will have been opened by year’s end. With the support of the Czech Development Agency, through the implementation of the People in Need project, three houses have been procured.”

6. Allocation to CREPOR of 2017 state Budget funds in the amount of 5653.7 thousand lei.

“The money was allotted for securing extra services of medical rehabilitation to about 350 war veterans and persons with locomotor disabilities, as well as for an increase in the number of beneficiaries of technical means.”

7. Development of the national Program to discharge persons with mental disabilities from institutions subordinated to the Ministry.

“The Program will focus on the discharge process of people with mental disabilities from inpatient institutions, by offering community-based social services, transforming inpatient institutions into regional centers with stakes in the development and provision of alternative community-based services.”

As ranked by the Center for Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities:

1. The coalition of organizations of persons with disabilities and initiative groups for the advocacy, defense, and monitoring of the implementation of the rights of people with disabilities.

“Throughout 2017, organizations of persons with disabilities have implemented several advocacy campaigns aimed at the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, on both national and international levels. The organizations have successfully implemented several activities towards defending the rights of disabled people, as well as producing system shift in the field of securing the rights of this category of people, such as the right to inclusive education, right to exercise legal capacity, right to accessibility, right to work and employment, access to justice. The active participation, in 2017, of people with disabilities and organizations that represent them in the process of alternative reporting to UN Committees CRPD, CRSCR, CRC and CAT.”

2. In 2017, the Republic of Moldova has been assessed by the UN CRPD Committee on ensuring the observance of rights of people with disabilities, under the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, passed by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on 9 July 2010.

“Following this assessment, the UN Committee issued 73 recommendations to the Government of Moldova, on securing the implementation of disabled persons’ rights, which Moldova has to implement before the next reporting period, i.e. by the end of 2020. The recommendations of the UN CRPD Committee will spur the development of several legislative initiatives, such as the change of practices in the field of right of persons with disabilities.”

3. Adoption of the National Program for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities for years 2017-2022, as of 08.09.2017.

“This national program contains an action plan on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities for years 2017-2022. This need for this program stems from the problems that people with disabilities face in Moldova, as well as the need to create crucial conditions for the implementation of the UN Convention on rights of persons with disabilities. Adopting this program is a significant step, since there hasn’t been such a program for years 2014-2017 in Moldova. The last National Strategy on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities was adopted in 2010 and has expired at the end of 2013.”

4. On 7 April 2017, the 2017-2012 National Employment Strategy came into effect.

“This strategy, unlike its similar predecessor, contains provisions on the enforcement of the right to work and employment within a free labor market for people with disabilities. Credit is due to the organizations that work in the field of rights of persons with disabilities, or their advocacy of the right to work for people with disabilities.”

5. Acknowledgment of the necessity to secure the right to access for all disabled persons, regardless of disability type, though the lens of universal design.

“2017 also stands out through several players’ acknowledgment of the necessity to secure the right to physical access, as a fundamental right not only for persons locomotor disabilities, but also for persons with visual disabilities. In this context, for the first time, in Chisinau, the organizations working for people with disabilities have successfully promoted the initiative to install tactile pavement on the streets of the capital, for use by people with visual disabilities.”