Self-Advocacy of Persons With Disabilities in the Republic of Moldova From the Perspective of International Human Rights Standards

The article delves into the concept of self-advocacy among persons with disabilities and its significance within the framework of international human rights standards. It analyses the legislation and policies of the Republic of Moldova to demonstrate how they establish conditions for the self-advocacy of persons with disabilities. The recently initiated process of accession to the European Union by the Republic of Moldova has implications for the country's approach to the rights of persons with disabilities. Consequently, the article also offers insights into the standards and legal provisions of the European Union that affect the self-advocacy of persons with disabilities. The article employs the method of documentary analysis to investigate relevant scientific publications and to scrutinize the legal frameworks at both the national and international levels that are relevant to the rights of persons with disabilities, enabling their self-advocacy and participation. The article concludes that Moldovan legislation is aligned with international standards on the rights of persons with disabilities, providing a robust legal basis for their self-advocacy. However, the effectiveness of self-advocacy depends on how actively involved persons with disabilities are in promoting their own interests. Additionally, it depends on whether decision-makers make media and information easily accessible to them, thus enabling their full and meaningful participation.