The social protection of persons with disabilities through strengthening social resilience

The author examines the social protection of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Moldova from the perspective of a human rights-based approach and a new paradigm. This paradigm emphasizes that equitable social protection for persons with disabilities, aimed at preventing discrimination and promoting social inclusion, involves: (a) ensuring income security to access necessary goods and services, (b) covering disability- related extra costs and facilitating support access, (c) providing access to healthcare, including disabilityrelated medical care and rehabilitation, and (d) improving access to life-cycle services such as childcare, education, vocational training, and employment support. The literature review and analysis of statistical data indicate that despite significant efforts over the past 14 years since the ratification of the UNCRPD to develop and implement an inclusive legal framework, persons with disabilities in Moldova still face limited income security and restricted access to social and community-based mainstream services. The situation is exacerbated during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic or the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Key research findings include: Moldova's disability determination system is shifting from a medical to a social model, but the transition is incomplete. Increased documentation requirements and limited information have made access to disability determination services more difficult, especially for those with severe disabilities and rural inhabitants. Social protection measures are inadequate and fail to address the diverse needs of individuals with various disabilities, affecting their eligibility for social assistance. Despite having a supportive legal framework, Moldova lacks a national program for integrated social services, with many services failings to meet quality standards. Individuals with disabilities face reduced access to health and education services due to poor infrastructure, insufficient resources, and a lack of inclusive policies. The pandemic worsened these access issues, particularly affecting benefits and services for those with severe disabilities, even though temporary government measures were implemented. To ensure equitable social protection for persons with disabilities, the author recommends: estimating minimum income and social protection needs and developing a national program for integrated social services with quality standards and trained personnel; collecting and analyzing data on access and barriers to health services, ensuring physical and informational accessibility, confidentiality, and support services; integrating disability aspects into education indicators and revising inclusive education funding mechanisms, providing educational support services, accessible infrastructure and equipment, and training for educators and school management; enforcing mandatory employment quotas for persons with disabilities, offering complementary incentives, rehabilitation, career guidance, vocational training, and workplace support services; and incorporating disability considerations into emergency situations and disaster risk management laws and policies.