The representatives of the LGBTI community, the Muslim religion persons, and people from the Roma ethnic group are among the least accepted vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova – this is the finding of a study published today, with the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The “Study on Equality Perceptions and Attitudes in the Republic of Moldova” has analyzed the level of acceptance and tolerance of 14 vulnerable groups, by attributing a specific social distance index (SDI). The value 0 (zero) of the SDI implies a minimum social distance.

Hence, the longest social distance is manifested towards the following vulnerable groups:

• LGBTI persons (SDI 5.2 points) – meaning that over half of the respondents have opted for excluding the representatives of the given group from the country;
• people living with HIV (4.3 points) – they are accepted over the level of citizens of the country;
• ex-detainees (3.6 points), persons with mental and intellectual disabilities (3.6 points); persons of Muslim religion (3.3 points); persons of African origin (3.1 points) and Roma persons (3.1 points) – they are accepted over the level of work colleague.

On the other hand, the study has identified that the smallest social distance is manifested towards the speakers of Russian language (0.9 points) and the Russians living in the Republic of Moldova (0.9 points), thus accepting them under the level of a friend.  

The study reveals that it is namely the personal experience which influences the most considerably the social distance. “The social distance towards the vulnerable groups is reduced considerably when the respondent knows personally and/or has in his/her closed social circle representatives of these groups”, explains the OHCHR Coordinator in the Republic of Moldova, Veaceslav Balan.

At the same time, there is a direct correlation between the respondents’ living standards and social-economic status and the level of perception towards certain groups of persons. Thus, the persons with higher education and from urban area have expressed more positive perceptions towards the majority of groups of persons, while the persons from rural area and with secondary or incomplete education have mentioned more negative perceptions.

The study also reveals that a multitude of stereotypes prevails in the Republic of Moldova regarding the different social groups – an aspect that influences their level of cohesion and social integration. “The application of stereotypes intoxicates and tensions the atmosphere in the society and inhibits the cohesion and solidarity between people”, stated Veaceslav Balan.

The “Study on Equality Perceptions and Attitudes in the Republic of Moldova” was elaborated during April – June, 2015, on a nationally representative sample of 1013 respondents from 13 regions of the country. The data collecting in the territory and the analysis of these data was performed by the Center for Sociological and Marketing Investigations “CBS-AXA”.

The study was elaborated by the Council on the prevention and elimination of discrimination and ensuring equality in Moldova and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova. The study was carried out under the “Supporting National Human Rights Institutions as per International Treaty Bodies and UPR Recommendations” project, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Download the press-release in Russian.