“Nothing is impossible”

“We should not allow disabilities to limit us,” said Jalba, a spry and chatty 29-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects her body movements and muscle coordination.

“I like living by myself in my apartment and being responsible for my own life. I pay my bills, go to the movies when it pleases me, and I don’t have to give explanations to anybody. My only challenges are overcoming barriers so that I can enjoy my human rights.”

Jalba recently completed an internship program conducted by UN Moldova, under the leadership of UN Human Rights Moldova. Set up in 2016, the UN Diversity Internship supports the inclusion of people belonging to marginalized groups who often face discrimination.

Working with mentors, the interns gain practical experience and acquire professional skills, useful for future employment in the labour market, including at the UN. The initiative is also meant to be a learning opportunity for the UN.

“The internship helped me personally and professionally,” said Jalba, who has a master’s degree in foreign languages and literature and works as a translator for an NGO in Chisinau. “I learned how to cope with my emotions and to better focus on the things I want to do.”

Jalba takes a lot of pride in her work as a translator, which she does from home.

“I type and I also use a voice system,” Jalba explained. “I am very accurate. I check everything, every word, every comma. I can sometimes be very particular. I don’t trust AI,” she added, bursting into laughter.

Inclusion

Moldova, a small European country, ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010. The ratification led to important legislative changes, including the 2012 Law on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and other reforms.

However, the fight for inclusion is far from over. In Moldova and elsewhere around the world, too many barriers continue to limit the participation of persons with disabilities in public and social life, denying them their rights, including access to education, health care, jobs, voting, and cultural and sporting activities, rights groups say.

Persons with disabilities are among the poorest in Moldova, official data show. Their employment rate is half that of the general population. Women with disabilities, particularly from rural areas, face high risks of violence, poverty, and social exclusion.

Under its mandate, UN Human Rights works with partners, civil society, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and the government to further advance the implementation of the Convention and promote the inclusion and participation in society of persons with disabilities.

This work includes advocacy, training and providing guidance and technical advice to develop policies following human rights-based approaches to disability.

“Persons with disabilities have the right to lead dignified and independent lives, on an equal basis with others,” said UN Human Rights officer Xenia Siminciuc, who was Diana’s mentor during the internship.

The two women have become close friends. More recently, Siminciuc helped Jalba draft a CV and improve her job interview skills, and Jalba is now employed by People's Advocate Office/Ombuds Office.

“We need to change our approach and see persons with disabilities as participants and contributors in the social, economic, cultural, civic and political life of our society and have access to the necessary support to exercise their human rights." Xenia Siminciuc, UN Human Rights Officer.

Vasile Cusca, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, said Moldova’s government is committed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, including adequate social protection, adapting educational institutions and improving professional training.

“Moldova has made a lot of progress, but there are still areas where we need to continue working,” he said. Since adopting the Law on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Moldova has developed a National Program on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities and a National Deinstitutionalization Program, he said.

The State Secretary said the Ministry has a good working relationship with UN Human Rights, and with the international human rights mechanisms. He said that despite limited funding, the government is engaging with partners to develop reforms and programs focused on advancing disability rights.

“The participation of persons with disabilities is a crucial element of inclusion. Not only for legislative reforms and revision of frameworks but very importantly to combat stereotypes and negative beliefs in society.”

Changing mentalities

For Ludmila Adamciuc it is all about changing mentalities. Adamciuc is the mother of Beatrice, a seven-year-old girl with Down syndrome.

After giving birth to her daughter, Adamciuc decided to become an activist for disability rights. With the support of UN Human Rights, she founded Prietena Mea (which means My Friend in Romanian), an NGO in Chisinau that raises awareness about the importance of acceptance of disabilities and empowers parents of children with disabilities.

“We live in a society with a lot of stigma and low acceptance of children with disabilities,” Adamciuc said.

“We hear cases of children with disabilities who are not accepted at educational institutions under the pretext that they have no qualified staff, but these can be examples of discrimination. This is why it is important to change mentalities, but also to enhance the skills of professionals and provide access to necessary support services. We are talking about equality of rights of children with disabilities.”

Bringing down barriers

Valeryi Shemyanskyi and Galina Fedotova, who are husband and wife, are also fighting to bring down barriers.

Shemyanskyi, who was born with cerebral palsy, is the president of GLIN, a civil society organisation organization on the left bank of the Dniester/Nistru River that provides legal, medical and psychological counselling for disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities.

The pair participated in a recent UN Human Rights capacity building program, where they learned about human rights, advocacy and other skills to promote change. Their organization is working with the de-facto authorities to amend regulatory framework on heath care and social benefits for persons with disabilities.

Shemyanskyi, who is currently finishing his law studies in Tiraspol with the idea of becoming a prosecutor, said GLIN is also planning to open a legal and psychological center on the right bank of the Dniester/Nistru River.

“Many persons with disabilities are unaware that they have the same human rights as everybody else,” said Fedotova, executive director of GLIN. “But we want to make a difference.”