The situation in psychiatric hospitals and in residential institutions for children and adults with disabilities is very bad and the only solution that proved its efficiency at international level is to close these institutions. This is a preliminary finding of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, who has paid a visit to Moldova on September 10-17, IPN reports.
Catalina Devandas-Aguilar told a news conference that owing to her tight schedule she managed to visit only the residential institutions in Balti and Orhei and the psychiatric hospital in Chisinau. The situation in these institutions is very bad and similar violations could be committed in all the other similar institutions of the country.
She noted that the visit to the residential institution in Orhei seemed the most difficult to her. Her main finding is that this institution, as the others of the kind, should be closed. According to the Special Rapporteur, there is evidence at international level showing that these institutions cannot be transformed into functional ones, where the rights of the persons with disabilities would be respected, and these thus should be closed.
Catalina Devandas-Aguilar said she is ready to provide the assistance needed to connect Moldova to resources for hastening the closing of these institutions. According to her, when these are closed, the Government should take measures to ensure that the persons leaving these institutions would receive the support needed to remain in the family and would enjoy support services that would ensure their inclusion into the education system and society. The authorities should work out a series of services for children and grownups with disabilities so as to make sure that these are fully integrated.
Moldova has taken interesting steps towards enhancing the situation of persons with disabilities, in particular in key areas such as education, de-institutionalization and legal capacity which are crucial for promoting their democratic and active participation in the community.
The Special Rapporteur will present a full report on the mission to the Human Rights Council in March 2016.
