Georgia: on Human Rights Day Tugushi criticized state institutions for invalids, elderly people and orphans

The Human Rights Day was marked on December 10 in many countries of the world. In this context, today, the Ombudsman in Georgia Giorgi Tugushi presented a report on the human rights situation of persons with disabilities. The members of the ad hoc group of the Ombudsman's office made monitoring at eight state institutions for disabled, elderly people and orphans.

The monitoring revealed that the care at these facilities was well outside international standards. According to Giorgi Tugushi, violations of various types were revealed in these institutions; in particular, inappropriate and offensive to human dignity attitude to beneficiaries; shortage of medical psychology programmes in institutions for persons with disabilities; non-adapted environment, which restricts mobility of such persons.

The audience was informed by Nato Sakrelidi, head of the NGO named "Life of the Youth", who is herself a wheelchair invalid, none of the specialized agencies in Tbilisi is equipped with special appliances for invalids, helping them to move, and she herself had to ask other people to help her.

Along with that, according to Mr Tugushi, the infrastructural environment in the monitored institutions is in need of repair. Facts were also revealed of violations of the rights of the staff and restrictions on invalids' private life. In particular, according to his story, the beneficiaries have no opportunities to live with their children and take care of them.

Andria Urushadze, Minister of Public Health, Labour and Social Protection of Georgia, agreed with the constructive criticism of the Ombudsman. He said the governmental development programme for disabled children has been approved; and personnel will be trained to take care of them.

He also said that in the near future it is planned to build 62 family houses for invalids, where they will be given professional care.

Local NGOs offered to build such houses in every district of Tbilisi. The Minister has agreed to discuss this proposal with NGOs and donors.

The presentation of the report was part of the week dated to the International Human Rights Day, which was sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).