Description
Equal access to public space is a project that aims to increase the accessibility of public space in three cities in Romania. Although Romania has a law aimed at improving accessibility, at this point there are no coherent public policies aimed at this. The project aims to carry out a research on the level of accessibility in three cities and mobilize public authorities in order to develop a policy document. The project will include a public awareness campaign on the need for accessibility in Bucharest. The target group will be composed of 50 people with disabilities to participate in research. Throughout the project, 1,500 people will be informed of the general public on accessibility issues. The project will be implemented in partnership with Motivation Foundation and Light into Europe Foundation.
Summary of project results
Although Romania had adopted since 2006 a law regarding the rights of the disabled people, many of its provisions still remain unimplemented. One of the most serious issues that remains unaddressed is that regarding the accessibility of public spaces in Romania. The “Equal Access to Public Space” project proposed a thorough study in three test cities in Romania in order to determine the extent of the problem. Three main activities were carried out: research, drafting a policy paper document based on the results of the research, and a social and advocacy campaign. The research regarding the accessibility of the three cities involved in the project is an important instrument that the local authorities will have the opportunity to use in the decision making process. The campaign raised awareness on the way people using wheelchairs can travel through the city, by using unconventional methods: a visual campaign created by a famous author, designer and activist (Dan Perjovschi) and a campaign during which people could try travelling through the city using wheelchairs. Public protests were also organised. The project also proved successful at other levels: the Ministry of Public Administration has adopted the public policy paper and will include it in the guidelines for the Regional Operational Program, and at the same time, the document was also adopted by the local authorities from Zalau - another city in Romania. This will ensure the sustainability of the project. The campaign has also included disabled people. In 2014 the largest mass rally of the disabled people was held in Bucharest with over 700 participants. The protesters urged the local authorities to take action in order to make the city more accessible. Moreover, through the campaign, 2638 signatures that support the public policy paper were gathered.
Summary of bilateral results