The People’s Advocates, Mihail Cotorobai and Maia Banarescu, draw attention to the need to take all necessary measures to prevent the exclusion from the actions for the prevention and protection of COVID-19 of those intended to persons from the category of vulnerable and marginalized groups, including with special needs. The Ombudsmen point out that, because of their disability, they require a greater degree of support and protection, but also access to information in a language adapted to their understanding, which takes into account how the information is perceived, in a format as more accessible so it can reach more beneficiaries.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Republic of Moldova, guarantees to persons with disabilities the right to information under equal conditions with others, through all forms of communication and at their choice. For this purpose, there must be elaborated informative materials about the measures of individual protection and prevention of the risk of infection with the new type of Coronavirus, in versions easy to read and understandable by the people with hearing and visual impairments and with intellectual disabilities. Thus, the authorities will ensure access to information, in accordance with the obligations assumed when ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The People’s Advocates also recommend setting up a monitoring on the situation of the persons in the category targeted by the local public authorities and providing support for overcoming additional obstacles in accessing first-aid goods, paying for services, under quarantine or self-isolation conditions. To this end, community members would also be welcomed to provide persons with disabilities the assistance they might need.

The People’s Advocates announce their opening to retrieve possible signals about the problems faced by disabled people during the emergency regime, urging the authorities and members of the local communities to pay due attention to the targeted category of people. Mihail Cotorobai and Maia Banarescu warn on the fact that there should not take place discrimination, segregation and human rights violations in the fight against the new type Coronavirus infection. The Ombudsmen argue that in the conditions of epidemic crisis we must be as supportive and responsive as ever to the needs of people in difficulty as well as not to admit their discrimination and social exclusion.

2020/18/03

Department for Human Rights Promotion

 and Communication

  Tel. 060002656