June 14 is the Day of Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Georgia. The aim of this day is to raise public awareness about people with disabilities and to once again focus on the legal status of these people.
Although the state has taken some positive steps in the recent period, full and effective protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is still problematic in the country.
Access to a physical environment, access to information, means of communication, and a variety of services for people with disabilities remain a challenge; Lack of services and aids, socio-economic¬ lack of support.
Proper involvement of persons/ children with disabilities in the educational process remains relevant. The agenda includes the need to take effective measures to ensure access to educational space, educational resources and the process. Also, timely and necessary mobilization of inclusive education specialists, including at the pre-school level.
The realization of the right to work and employment of persons with disabilities is connected with difficulties. Barriers to their employment are inaccessible environment and services, lack of formal education and discriminatory attitude of employers towards persons with disabilities.
It is problematic to guarantee the right to housing for persons with disabilities and to fight against homelessness. Due to the insufficient efforts of the state, the needs of people with disabilities are completely or partially ignored in the country’s vast majority of social housing. Among them is the inaccessibility of the physical environment of the dwellings, overcrowding, and lack of support services.
Challenges at the municipal level include the introduction/strengthening of needs-based services, as well as the participation of persons with disabilities in local councils for persons with disabilities and the effective functioning of deliberative bodies.
Measures taken in the field of mental health are not enough. The number of community services and the geographical coverage area did not increase significantly. A strategy for deinstitutionalization of the field has not been developed yet.
The process of deinstitutionalization of large institutions for persons with disabilities also remains a challenge.
The issue of transition to a fair system for granting disability status, which in addition to medical evidence, will focus on the psychological and social factors of the person, remains unresolved. The amount of the social package defined by the current model is not tailored to the individual needs of persons with disabilities and does not provide the minimum for their satisfaction.
Public awareness of issues related to persons with disabilities is still low, which is reflected in the incorrect terms and stereotypical views used by them. This promotes stigmatization of the group, creates barriers and prevents the inclusion of people with disabilities in public life.
The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the state to take effective steps to ensure the proper realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in the country, to raise public awareness and establish an inclusive society.
