Rumänien: Context analysis

Summary:

The aim of this analysis is to get a wider picture of the situation for persons with intellectual disabilities in today’s Romania. With the context analysis as a base IM intends to answer the following questions;

• What are the remaining obstacles for persons with disabilities to achieve full participation in the Romanian society?
• Can the services provided by IM Romania be taken over by local actors in a sustainable way?
• Is there a need for another local NGO in the field? If yes, what are the presumptions for its success?

There is no monitoring of persons with disabilities in Romania. Only 2% of the total population are registered with a disability, which is a very low number in an international comparison.

This analysis clearly shows that much remains to be done until persons with disabilities can participate fully in the Romanian society. Much is however happening right now and only in the past few years many changes have taken place. It needs to be remembered that only twenty years ago the only alternative for persons with disabilities who could not live with their families without any support was to be placed in a large psychiatric institution with often very bad conditions and that the real process of reform for adults started only five years ago.

Strategies and laws for persons with disabilities exist but are far from always followed in practice. Access to accommodation, rehabilitation, day centers, education and employment are severely limited. Although strategies and laws are stating that community services should be developed this is still in its initial phase. The public pressure for reforms is in general very limited. Many persons do not know their rights and do not claim them.

The public sector is to a large extent depending on the services NGOs provide for persons with disabilities and there are many collaborations and joint projects between local authorities and NGOs. Most NGOs say it is difficult to cooperate with authorities but it does work. According to a recent law, the public sector can now buy services provided by NGOs. It is difficult to conclude that local authorities in general are ready to take over the services which IM are providing. In a few years time the situation might however be very different.

Funding is a large problem. The local authorities do in general not have enough funds to provide the services they are obliged to. All of the NGOs interviewed say it is much more difficult to find funds since Romania entered the EU because most international donors have pulled out.

There is definitely room for another NGO in this field, although the alternative to strengthen the already existing NGOs should be considered. To strengthen cooperation between NGOs and create networks is also very much needed.

The changes taking place at this moment for persons with disabilities definitely gives an important opportunity for IM to take active part in. It should be a good opportunity for IM to share its knowledge and experiences with other NGOs and authorities on all different levels.