Georgian Parliament marking Day of People with Disabilities with “important decisions” - Speaker
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili highlighted the importance of “full engagement” of disabled individuals in the “decision-making process”. Photo: Shalva Papuashvili’s Facebook
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Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Wednesday said the country’s legislative body was marking this year’s Day of Protection of Rights of the People with Disabilities on the back of “important decisions” made over the recent years to “assert the rights” of disabled individuals across the country.
In his social media post, Papuashvili cited the ratification of the optional protocol of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and inclusion in law of the indexation of social packages for such individuals of all categories and ages among the lawmaking institution’s work in the direction.
He also named strengthening of “Parliamentary supervision” of the topic and increase in the budget support for social rehabilitation and childcare for disabled people from ₾37.4 million ($14mln) to ₾66 million ($25 mln).
Papuashvili said his body had also approved the state visions for disabled women's economic empowerment and gender equality in the country as part of legislation for women, before also highlighting the “increased responsibility” of ensuring actual provision of “equal opportunity”.
The Parliament Speaker also stressed “full engagement” of disabled individuals in the “decision-making process” in creating an “equal and inclusive environment” where rights of “not only disabled individuals but of each citizen” would be ensured “at a high standard”.
Tbilisi metro stations will be adapted for people with disabilities with financial support of international organisations including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, mayor Kakha Kaladze announced on Wednesday.
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.
Pension and social packages have increased starting from today. 114,000 people with disabilities and pensioners will receive the increased social package by 20 GEL [$6.18].
Georgia’s Ministry of Justice has made all public services maximally available for people with various disabilities.
Rati Ionatamishvili, a member of the Georgian Parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the United States President’s adviser had proposed Georgia to become a member of the US President’s international forum of disabled persons.
Ongoing and planned reforms within Georgia’s Ministry of Justice for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between Deputy Minister Buba Lomuashvili and Gerard Quinn, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Rati Ionatamishvili, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said Gerard Quinn, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, had “positively assessed” steps taken by the Georgian Government in protecting disabled people’s rights.
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked annually on December 3, the Georgian Government on Sunday announced that work to fulfil the goals and objectives outlined in the second National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights of Georgia for 2022-2030, adopted in 2023, was underway by developing a 2024-2026 national action plan.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Sunday said the role and commitment of disabled persons, including injured military personnel, were “particularly noteworthy” today with “just a few days left before the European Council grants Georgia the European Union membership candidate status”.