MOLDOVA

General section on Independent Living

1.1. Overall implementation of Article 19

Implementation of this article requires improvement.

1.2. Choice of living arrangements

Disabled adults cannot freely choose their living arrangements. There are still segregated settings (social care institutions, psychiatric hospitals, group homes and other) for disabled adults (incl. older people with disabilities) and children.

1.3. Deinstitutionalisation strategy

Moldova has a deinstitutionalisation strategy and it is described as adequate. However, there is strong resistance in society towards this strategy, which makes implementation difficult. There has been progress in the last years on this issue.

According to the responses, funds provided by the EU are still being invested into renovation or building of new institutions for disabled people in Moldova.

1.4. Access to mainstream services

Access to education (primary, secondary and tertiary), public transport and culture are inadequate. Access to other mainstream services including housing, health care and employment in the open labour market requires improvement. There is a law protecting disabled people in the labour market, but its implementation requires improvement.

1.5. Access to personal assistance

Moldova has a personal assistance system in place to facilitate inclusion of disabled individuals in the community. However, no information was provided about implementation of the PA scheme.