Protesters in Tbilisi demand to ratify UN Convention on Invalids' Rights

In Tbilisi, in front of the residence of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, an action "Equal Opportunities for All" was held to support people with disabilities. The action was attended by about 50 persons. The participants of the action demanded to ratify immediately the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The action was organized by the NGO "Let's be Friends", and the participants of the action coordinated their activities through the social network "Facebook". Giya Djvarsheishvili, the leader of the NGO "Let's be Friends", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent namely that day was selected for the action, since on October 15, the International Day of "White Cane" is marked.

"In Georgia, people with disabilities are actually home prisoners (according to the recent information of the Ministry of Health, there are about 150,000 persons with disabilities in Georgia, note of the "Caucasian Knot"). No ramps are installed anywhere, and people cannot use public transport. And in places, where ramps are installed, nothing was calculated, and people with disabilities cannot use them in any way," Giya Djvarsheishvili said.

Giya Dzhvarsheishvili has stressed that was not a political action. The participants of the action have gathered in front of the presidential residence, since, according to the NGO's leader, the signature of the President can change everything.

"Georgia has acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities yet in 2009; however, since then, the UN Convention has not been ratified... There are no conditions for children, there are no Braille textbooks for schoolchildren. No conditions are available," Giya Djvarsheishvili stated. He has added that in the issue, ordinary citizens display visible activity, and officials behave as if they are not concerned by the problems.

The action has been attended by Dr. Werner Hacker, a representative of the "Rehabilitation Centre" from Germany, who holds in Georgia courses for teachers, working in schools for blind persons.