Article 16 of the Constitution of Moldova on the equality of rights should be modified as it does not include non-discrimination on the grounds of disability. Such an opinion was expressed by the foreign human rights expert Mariane Schulze during the national conference “UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – New Prospects for Moldova” held on November 23. According to the expert, the postponement of the ratification of the Convention by Moldova after signing it in 2007 leads to the further marginalization of the disabled. Schulze said the arguments about the costs of ratifying and implementing the Convention cannot be accepted as they have not been invoked in the case of other international treaties on human rights. Instead, there are favorable arguments like the fact that the document becomes part of the communitarian acquis. Liliana Palihovich, the head of the parliamentary commission for social protection, health and family, said the ratification process is not purely legislative, but requires efforts on the part of the whole society. “The ratification must not bring a new Convention, but a new approach to the problems faced by the disabled,” she said. The MP promised that the ratification and implementation of the international treaty will be discussed at one of the meetings of the parliamentary commission that he heads so as to assess the costs and identify the advantages. According to Palihovich, the major advantage of the ratification is that the rights of the citizens will be respected and there will be ensured equal chances for all. For his part, the Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Vadim Pistrinciuc stressed that not the ratification of the Convention but the modification of the people's attitude to the persons with disabilities is the ultimate goal. UNDP Moldova expert Clod Cahn said a change of paradigm is required in Moldova as the disabled are treated mistakenly. Some people consider them as patients, not as persons living in the same society, while others – as helpless persons. The secretary of the Initiative for the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Ecaterina Golovatai said recommendations for the senior authorities will be formulated at the end of the conference. She will make a call to the Parliament, the Government and the Presidential Office, asking that they ratify the Convention and start adjusting the legislation.