US welcomes adoption of Georgia’s Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Georgian parliament has adopted the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Photo: unairan.org.
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The US Embassy to Georgia has welcomed the recent adoption of Georgia’s Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, saying that this law establishes ‘fundamental principles’ to guide the government’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the government in this area.
Effective implementation will be critical to ensuring persons with disabilities are able to fully participate in Georgian society,” said the embassy.
The statement reads that the US embassy is proud to partner with the government of Georgia, parliament, and Georgian civil society organisations ‘to promote the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities.’
As the United States celebrates the 30th anniversary of our own American Disabilities Act this month, we remember the words of President George H.W. Bush, who said, “Every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once closed doors to a bright new era of equality, independences, and freedom,” says the embassy.
The changes proposed by the Georgian government set out specific mechanisms for the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities, and define the responsibilities of institutions to implement and plan these measures.
The Georgian Parliament has adopted the bill on the Rights of the Disabled People, which aims to create legislative guarantees for individuals with special needs and, accordingly, protect their rights.
Georgian public service halls have added services for disabled persons, becoming the only state service body to work in full compliance with the needs of the disabled.
Fine will increase from the current 10 GEL (4 USD) to 50 GEL (18 USD) for parking in spots which are allocated for vehicles of people with disabilities. The Georgian parliament has approved the bill with its third and final reading earlier today.
Today Georgia is marking the international day of people with disabilities
Ken Walker Medical Rehabilitation University Clinic opened in Tbilisi earlier today, complete with American and European rehabilitation equipment. The clinic, which was built with US support, will be the state of the art rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities in the Caucasus which has the capacity to treat up to 200 children and 250 adults at a time.The idea of building the centre belonged to professor Ken Walker, who died back in 2018.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the budget for social rehabilitation and childcare is increasing annually, noting that it is expected to reach 52 million GEL in 2022. "This means that the geographical availability of social services and the funding of various new services will increase,” Garibashvili said.