Rights of people with disabilities (PWDs), challenges for their protection, ways to combat stigma, addressing mental health issues as well as methods for clearly communicating with PWDs.
Capacity building training conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in South Caucasus (UN OHCHR) for lawyers of the Legal Aid Service of Georgia (LAS) on 19-20 June 2021.
Participants were welcomed by the UN OHCHR Senior Human Rights Adviser for the South Caucasus Vladimir Shkolnikov, “UN OHCHR continues its efforts for promoting and protecting rights of PWDs and establishment of an inclusive society in Georgia. Over the past years, Georgia has made significant progress, especially with regard to safeguarding the rights of PWDs however, we all see that more issues still remain unresolved in practice. That is why it is important to make sure that the rights of these persons are fully realized and protected. The implementation of the new Law on the Rights of PWDs recently adopted by Georgia as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Protocol are essential in fulfilling this objective.”
The capacity building programme enabled the participants to learn more about the ethics of communicating with PWDs. Through interactive role-playing they thoroughly analyzed details of working with their beneficiaries and the ways/processes of providing them with effective assistance in stressful situations.
According to the First Deputy of Legal Aid Service, Nino Meladze, this training will help practicing lawyers in their daily work of providing legal assistance to PWDs.
“From the 1st of January 2021, the mandate of the Service has been extended to cover working with the PWDs. Our lawyers are authorized to represent these persons in court and in the administrative bodies in case of an appeal. The persons who attended the training have daily contact with beneficiary PWDs and thus mastering communication skills will help my colleagues effectively protect rights of service beneficiaries.” said Nino Meladze.
This capacity building training was held within the framework of the joint programme on Transforming Social Protection for Persons with Disabilities in Georgia, implemented by six UN agencies (OHCHR, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, UN Women) with the support of the United Nation’s Fund for Sustainable Development Goals.