Disability in Moldova

Turned Away From Teaching, Disabled Moldovan 'Astonished' By Discrimination. “Told she could not become a teacher because she was born without one hand and forearm, but she has never given up on her dream.” (Video feature, subtitles in English, 2023, Radio Free Europe)

Women with Disabilities in Business a report on identification of Problems and Obstacles Faced. (2024, Center for International Private Enterprise)

Give people with disabilities a chance to work experience of a woman with disability working at an electronic systems company. (2022, ILO Voices)

Overview

Landmark Ruling: European Court Finds Moldova failed to Protect Woman with Disabilities from Servitude:

“I.C.’s ordeal started when the director of the institution she had been living agreed to “give” her to a family, upon the family’s request, purportedly as part of Moldova’s deinstitutionalisation process. Once in the family’s home, she was forced to do household labour without any remuneration and under the threat of punishment if she refused. Subsequently, the landlord started to sexually abuse her, threatening that she had nowhere else to go and that she would not be believed if she dared to complain.” (Feb, Validity Foundation)

Conditions in Institutions

Institutionalised neglect and psychiatric placement for mildly disabled child in State care illustrates systemic discrimination:

“The Court found in particular that the existing Moldovan legal framework fell short of the State’s duty (“positive obligation”) to establish and apply effectively a system providing protection to intellectually disabled persons in general, and to children without parental care in particular, against serious breaches of their integrity.” (2024, European Court of Human Rights)

European Court Judgment Exposes Discrimination and Abuse of Children with Disabilities. “The Court’s ruling sheds lights on systemic failures within Moldova’s legal framework, particularly concerning the involuntary placement of children with disabilities in psychiatric hospitals and the absence of independent safeguards to prevent abuse.” (2024, Validity)

The EU Accession Process: Report and Guidance for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities:

“As part of accession negotiations, Ukraine and Moldova have to undertake a series of complex, long-term reforms in order to align with EU standards in the disability domain such as deinstitutionalisation, reform of the disability assessment system, ensuring an inclusive open labour market and education, among others.” (2024, EDF)

Situation Analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities. (2022, UNPRPD)

Addressing Stigma and Discrimination to eliminate violence against women with disabilities, policy paper. (Link to pdf, 2024, UN Women)

Evacuating or Leaving Ukraine

Disability and Displacement: Ukraine War's Impact on Moldova and challenges faced by refugees with disabilities. (Jan, UNPRPD)

Regional social protection overview For Ukrainian refugees who have temporary protection in six host countries: Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. (2023, Acaps)

Enabling support for Ukrainian refugees with disabilities in the Republic of Moldova (2023, WHO)

"I want to go back" testimonies from older people who left Ukraine. (2022, Help Age)

Rapid Needs Assessment of Older Refugees

"Only 22% of older people interviewed had a disability. This is surprisingly low and may reflect that many of those with a disability have found it harder to flee their homes. Agencies should be prepared in coming weeks for older people arriving who need assistive aids such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, and incontinence pads, which may have been left behind, lost, or broken along the journey. " (link to pdf, 2022, Help Age)