Between 6–9 October 2025, the trainees of the National Institute of Justice participated in the Autumn School entitled “Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Coercive Medical Treatment”. The event also brought together trainee lawyers and lawyers providing state-guaranteed legal aid, interested in deepening their knowledge in the field of human rights and mental health.
The training program was delivered by Vanu Jereghi, Director of the Institute for Human Rights and expert in human rights; Arcadie Astrahan, expert in mental health and psychiatrist; and Ion Caracuian, expert in criminal policies and procedures, including in the field of torture prevention and other ill-treatment. In addition to theoretical sessions, participants carried out a study visit to a specialized medical institution, which provided them with a practical perspective on the topics addressed.
The training covered essential topics such as the evolution of the concept of disability and the transition from the medical to the social model, the types and general criteria for identifying mental disorders, and the connections between mental and legal capacity. It also examined international standards and the new protection paradigm established by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the national legal framework, and specific accommodation measures tailored to the nature of the condition. Particular emphasis was placed on the regulation of coercive medical treatment, judicial and extrajudicial protection measures, as well as the challenges identified in their implementation.
The initiative was organized by the National Institute of Justice in partnership with the Institute for Human Rights and Amnesty International Moldova.
