GEORGIA: DISABILITIES FAIR HELPS RAISE AWARENESS

UNCLAS TBILISI 001184 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: DISABILITIES FAIR HELPS RAISE AWARENESS ¶1. Summary: The first Disability Fair-Forum took place in Georgia June 14 and 15, bringing together 40 different international, non-governmental, governmental and business organizations to present their work and achievements in the disability sphere. Ambassador Tefft opened the awards ceremony on the second day and spoke of the Embassy's long-term commitment to supporting the disabled in Georgia. The Director of the Coalition for Independent Living, Giorgi Dzneladze, who has worked as an advocate for people with disabilities in Georgia for 20 years, said that he has finally seen some progress during the last three years thanks to the support of the USAID project, Supporting Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities. The two-day event marked the first event of its kind in Georgia, exposing senior government officials to the personal struggles faced by people with disabilities. Numerous officials committed themselves to work on behalf of those with disabilities. End Summary. Increased awareness through the Disability Fair and Forum ¶2. On June 14th the widely attended First Disability Fair-Forum offered thematic group panel discussions (on education, health and social protection, employment and rights and advocacy),a press conference, an art fair exhibition, oral presentations, a photo exhibit and documentary films. The event was organized to bring groups of people with disabilities face-to-face with senior government officials. Radio advertisements that announced the event brought numerous disabled individuals and small groups to Tbilisi, to share their issues and perspectives with government officials. George Chulukhadze, (an internally displaced person form Achabeti),in a wheel chair since childhood, traveled by public transportation (unequipped for disabled travelers) from the village of Teliani, to tell the government that he and his wife (his main caregiver) had no health insurance. His wife is now seriously ill and is unable to care for him or get the surgery she needs. His common problem, access to existing resources, was taken up immediately by Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, Head of Health and Social Programs Agency, Vakhtang Surguladze. Chulukhadze's story served as one example of many that showed government representatives that despite significant progress, much work still needs to be done to integrate disabled individuals into society and, at a minimum, ensure they receive benefits to which they are entitled. Awards ¶3. On June 15, Ambassador Tefft lead off the awards ceremony honoring many for their important contributions to awareness building. Ambassador Tefft stressed the need to pay attention and draw attention to the problems of the disabled and the work of the governmental agencies who were confronting these issues. A National Strategy ¶4. The two-day event highlighted the need for the development of a national comprehensive strategy across ministries to address the needs of the disabled in support of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted on December 13, 2006. Previously, planned to be completed in September 2009, work on the national strategy has lagged. ¶5. Comment: The event certainly provided the government with a clear view of how much more work, beyond ratifying the UN Convention, has to be done to make to provide meaningful results for the people they aim to serve. The event was also quite successful in raising the awareness of those through society in Georgia to the challenges of the disabled population. End Comment. TEFFT