MP Rati Ionatamishvili has addressed the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), where he discussed Georgia’s achievements and ongoing challenges.

According to the Georgian Parliament, the conference was primarily focused on celebrating and consolidating achievements in a dynamic, evolving world, while also shaping the next phase of implementation.

“In his address, Rati Ionatamishvili placed particular emphasis on the vital need to unite international efforts to advance the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration spoke at length about the successful reforms Georgia has implemented over the years after it ratified the Convention. As Rati Ionatamishvili noted, the primary achievements include: the refinement of the legislative framework, through the adoption of a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities meeting European standards, and the implementation of physical and web accessibility regulations; financial and social support, namely a fivefold increase in the social services budget and the indexation of social packages; the promotion of independent living, through the rollout of the personal assistant scheme and independent living centres; and inclusion and recognition, specifically the state-level recognition of sign language, alongside the significant bolstering of inclusive education and the Paralympic movement.

Alongside these positive reforms, Rati Ionatamishvili drew the Assembly’s attention to critical challenges. He highlighted the severe human rights crisis faced by persons with disabilities living in the occupied territories of Georgia, stressing that this situation demands an ongoing response from the international community,” the statement from the Parliament of Georgia reads.