Ombudsperson Mihail Cotorobai: The authorities of the Republic of Moldova still have a lot more to do to ensure the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This declaration was made at the National Conference entitled “the First Alternative Report on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”. The event was organized on 9 December of this year by the Legal Aid Center for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with the Ombudsperson's Office and with the support of UNDP, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner in Moldova and SOIR Moldova.

The Ombudsperson welcomed the development of the First Alternative Report on the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the civil society, which will provide complementary information on the situation in this area to the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mihail Cotorobai underlined the importance attributed by the Ombudsperson's Office to the observance of the rights of persons with disabilities, mentioning that the Ombudsperson's Institution organized, only in this year, an international conference and four round tables on this topic, which were attended by persons with disabilities.  The Ombudsperson also revealed that a part of the recommendations included in the First Alternative Report, which is presented today for debates, are also included in the Resolution of the International Conference with the topic “5 Years since the Republic of Moldova ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” organized by the Ombudsperson's Office on 19-20 July, as well as in its previous annual reports.

In addition, on the Ombudsperson initiative, it was agreed on 4 December of this year in the Ombudsperson’s Discussion Forum to establish a Council of Experts in the Ombudsperson’s Institution, which will be the bedrock for the Independent Mechanism of Monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The draft regulation on its operation will be discussed next week in a meeting with the representatives of civil society and persons with disabilities.

Mihail Cotorobai expressed his belief that the discussions during the today’s meeting will contribute to the improvement of the First Alternative Report of the civil society. He welcomed the involvement of several persons with disabilities in the debates.

The Ombudsperson also agreed that everything they do for persons with disabilities shall be carried out with direct participation of persons with disabilities: “Nothing about persons with disabilities without the involvement of persons with disabilities!”

In 2010 the Republic of Moldova ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. According to its Article 35, the State Party shall submit a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations under the Convention, within two years after the entry into force of the present Convention, thereafter each four years.

2015-12-09