The Parliament of Georgia, at its plenary session on March 5, ratified the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 82 votes.
In a case when a person with a disability fails to restore his or her rights in Georgia, he or she will be able to apply to the UN Committee on Persons with Disabilities.
“By ratifying the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Georgia becomes part of a family of progressive states where the rights of persons with disabilities and, most importantly, individual advocacy mechanisms are fully protected. And the process of full ratification of the principles. In addition to international commitments and advocacy, the entry into force of the Protocol gives us many opportunities and opens the door to a number of areas.
In particular, we can get more foreign support, additionally attract new grants and strengthen both persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. This protocol is really the most comprehensive and high standard official document for the protection of persons with disabilities, so it is important that we share it and show even more responsibility to our persons with disabilities, “said MP Rati Ionatamishvili.
“This is a decision of historical significance,” said Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
