Shared experience on human rights between Romania and the UK

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office launched yesterday the 2012 Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report, which details our efforts to promote human rights during 2012. I’ve invited Iulian to tell us more about the rights of the disabled and the joint work that could be done between Romania and the UK on this issue:

My name is Iulian Craciun and, when they see me, most people refer to me as “disabled”. Why? Because I use a wheelchair as transportation and, considering the fact that you rarely see such sights in Romania, one suddenly becomes the centre of collective attention.

I have always been told that someone disabled like me can do close to nothing. But I did not care about what others said and I moved on with my life.

I managed to do things that even “normal” people consider difficult to obtain. I have my own business, I have a lovely family, I help thousands of people through a project which enjoys the largest VIP support in Romania, StartEvo, and all of this in spite the fact that I can’t even drink a glass of water on my own. I did not give up and I proved everyone, those disabled and those not, that IT IS POSSIBLE. Anything is possible!

I am now struggling to improve the current legislation for the disabled and its applicability. Just think that there are over a million Romanians with disabilities who have been told over the years that it is their fault, that it’s a medical condition, that society can’t integrate them because they are different.

This may be one of the reasons why so few have declared their disabilities (1.97% in Romania compared to the European average of approximately 10%). People need to see that it can be done, they need to see examples and a society that is educated to accept and embrace them as productive members.

This is why I have asked for the UK’s support. Because they have decades of experience in this matter, because they have procedures in place that work and because I think the easiest way to evolve is to learn by example. We, the people with disabilities, have to take action on two aspects: ourselves and the society.

We must learn and grow, but also try to change the society we live in, to make them acknowledge our competencies. This way, things will be better for everyone: both for us, the ones who are ‘different’ and our families and also for the society in general. All we need is a strong determination and we will manage to improve the current situation. I am sure of this!

Iulian Craciun | Founder, StartEvo.com