The Soroca District Court has recently installed an access ramp at the entrance to its headquarters, to facilitate access to justice for people with locomotor disabilities, in equal and non-discriminatory manner.

This was possible thanks to the support of Sweden, offered through the project "Strengthening efficiency and access to justice in Moldova", implemented by UNDP Moldova, in partnership with the Public Association "INVENTO". Soroca City Hall provided the land on which the access ramp was built, and the Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provided informative and methodological support for the works.

“The ramp is comfortable, very well made, by the book. It's easy to get on and off. I can go freely and alone without any help, it's very convenient," says Vladimir Dârloi, a resident of Soroca and a wheelchair user.

The process of making and installing the ramp took place between August and September 2021. Its cost is over 50,600 lei.

"Thanks to the ramp, people with locomotor disabilities will be able to enter the courthouse independently, to realize their right to justice. The construction of the ramp is a step towards ensuring equality in rights," mentioned Raisa Cazacu, head of the Generalization of Judicial Practice and Public Relations Service within the Soroca Court.

According to the Center for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the construction complies with technical accessibility regulations for people with locomotor disabilities, namely: the ramp is made of non-slip material, the inclination angle of the ramp is according to accessibility standards, and bars are installed on both sides of the ramp. support at an appropriate distance.

"Assuming the task to ensure human-centered services in the justice sector refers primarily to how inclusive they are, starting - literally - from the very threshold of a local court. This achievement is another proof of the importance of active professionals in the judiciary, the initiative coming from local actors, who acted proactively to improve access to justice in Soroca and attracted funds for it," said Ana Indoitu, Executive Director, INVENTO.

The Soroca District Court plans to take other measures to increase the accessibility of its headquarters, such as providing mobile ramps inside the institution. The resources for this activity have been budgeted for the financial year 2022.