UN Moldova calls everyone to stand up for the inclusion of persons with disabilities

The recently published National SDG Progress Report highlights the commitment of the Republic of Moldova to ensure adequate social protection for persons with disabilities. However, it is also important to ensure disability inclusion provides for enhanced accessibility to public services and that programmes are in place to ensure increased social cohesion and inclusion in communities.

Persons with disabilities continue facing systemic discrimination and coming across barriers that restrict their meaningful inclusion  and participation  in all areas of society. According to studies on inequalities carried out in 2017 and 2019 in Moldova, persons with disabilities are among the poorest people, together with older persons. The employment rate of persons with disabilities is half that of the general population. The lack of/limited accessibility, including access to qualitative assistive technologies, is another challenge for persons with disabilities.

UN Moldova acknowledges the essential role and contribution of the organizations of persons with disabilities and CSOs to ensure an improved quality of life, as well as to support the development of services that facilitate the process of social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

We all have a role to play in supporting the inclusion of persons with disabilities and having them accepted in our community, be it school, work, neighborhood, etc.

In 2021, the UN Country Team in Moldova has developed the Theory of Change to advance the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the disability-inclusive Sustainable Development Goals for all persons with disabilities in the Republic of Moldova aimed to promote coordinated and strengthened support of the United Nations in the advancement of the implementation of the CRPD.

We must change our approach and see persons with disabilities not only as beneficiaries but as active participants and contributors of our society across social, economic, cultural and political life. They must be part of all our decision-making processes - that is when real change happens.

On this Day, our message is clear, let’s stand up for persons with disabilities and deliver development progress based on equal rights for everyone.