The Committee, within its oversight function and pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, heard information about the enforcement of the tasks stipulated for the executive authority and the judicial institutions under the transitional provisions of the Law on Rights of the Persons with Disabilities.

“The main directions so far stipulated were related to the tasks subject to the implementation as of April 1 and envisaged the approval of the respective actions plans by the administrative bodies. It includes the central institutions and LEPLs, as well as the municipal bodies the tasks of which are of particular interest. At the preceding sitting, we issued the recommendations to these agencies and I would like to thank them for their activities and especially thank Maka Peradze, striving on behalf of the Governmental Administration coordinating the joint activities for better outcomes. We witness the improvements but the emphasis shall be made on the problems outlined in these directions and we shall plan certain activities”, - the Chair, Mikheil Sarjveladze stated.

As the Deputy Chair of the Legal Issues Committee, Rati Ionatamishvili noted, there are the services that have not yet developed the action plans since the adoption of the Law.

“I am glad to see only 16 municipalities out of 62 not developing the action plan but it still indicates that the problems of the persons with disabilities in these 16 municipalities are not resolved. If they want to effectively consume their resources and implement the programs envisaging the needs of the persons with disabilities, they need to improve their communication with the persons with disabilities, listen to them and support them in their regions. It will ensure the effective decision-making”.

The agreement on terms shall be achieved and the reasonable term shall be established as of June 1. The Chief of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Governmental Administration, and the representatives of the Ministries of Labor; Education; Regional Development; Justice, and Internal Affairs introduced information about the enforcement of the Law. The reporters stressed the activities by their agencies and the terms they intend to fulfill the tasks envisaged under the transitional provisions.

The representative of the Public Defender expressed his position.

According to M. Sarjveladze, persons with disabilities shall be engaged in this process. “It is not a mere formalized requirement of the law or the request of the Committee or Public Defender but a real necessity in the agenda of these agencies. It is a need when certain agencies strive to make the benefits tangible and visible for their beneficiaries. We need this type of communication”.

"Today, the rights of persons with disabilities are significantly improved, he added. “I do hope that 2022 will be better. The pace shall be doubled as too much is still to be done. The main idea and the mission of this Law are that the state and society together shall cooperate in this direction and accelerate their pace. The obligation imposed on the private sector will be discussed at the next sittings”, - M. Sarjveladze stated.

The Committee is to develop yet another document of recommendations for the respective agencies.

“We have to analyze our further steps and plans and I hail the initiatives expressed today aiming at higher standards of protection of rights of the persons with disabilities. It shall be the key priority”, - the Chair stated.

The Committee schedules another sitting as of June 14 to discuss these issues.