Georgia: Irine Chikhladze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, participated in the 17th UN CRPD Conference of Member States held at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 11-13, 2024.
During her speech on June 11, Irine Chikhladze focused on protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and noted that, along with the country’s achievements in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there are a number of challenges.
Among them, the equal and essential involvement of persons with disabilities in decision-making and the realization of their rights to the accessibility of persons with disabilities, both in terms of the physical environment as well as access to services, programs, information, and communication, remains unsatisfactory.
While presenting the position of the Ombudsman, Irine Chikhladze emphasized the importance of applying artificial intelligence to promote communication with persons with disabilities, the necessity of the State to activate international cooperation in this regard, and the need for ratification of the framework convention of the Council of Europe on “Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” in time. Talk about being a lobola.
In his speech, the Deputy Public Ombudsman also drew attention to the unequal environment and barriers to the realization of employment for persons with disabilities, such as stigma and stereotypical attitudes towards persons with disabilities, lack of formal education, less awareness among employers and job seekers, and inaccessible physical environment Oh and the working conditions and The other one.
In the round table format of June 12, while talking about the situation of protecting the rights of persons with disabilities during risk and emergencies, the Deputy Public Ombudsman talked about that negative experience.
It drew attention to the support provided by the government for disabled people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the end of his speech, the Deputy Public Ombudsman touched upon the newly adopted law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” and the risks this act may pose in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Irine Chikhladze noted that the State should repeal all legislation and practices that endanger the full realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and appropriate international cooperation because many achievements in this field result from joint efforts of global partners and the State.
During the conference, the public defender’s representatives also participated in the event on implementing artificial intelligence in the healthcare field. They also met with members of the Global Alliance of National Institutes of Human Rights GANHRI and the European Network.
The Conference of Member States of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) brings together representatives of the participating states of the Convention for the Rights of Perspectives with Disabilities and periodically meets to discuss issues related to the implementation of the convention.
This year’s meeting focused on implementing artificial intelligence, employing persons with disabilities, and protecting their rights in emergency and risk situations. It focused on achievements and challenges by member states, international organizations, civil society, and the National Institutes of Human Rights.
