The "Coalition for Independent Living," in collaboration with the organisations "Unison" in Armenia and the "Association for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled" in Moldova, is currently executing a project titled "Moldovan, Armenian and Georgian DPOs for Inclusion and Cooperation (MAGIC)."
The primary objective of this consortium, consisting of three non-governmental organisations (NGOs), is to assess the efficacy of implementing disability legislation in Armenia, Moldova, and Georgia. Their goals encompass advocacy for disability legislation within these nations and the facilitation of increased cooperation among NGOs dedicated to disability-related issues, both domestically and internationally. Within the project's framework, a comprehensive study has been conducted, resulting in the formulation of recommendations to enhance the implementation of legislation concerning persons with disabilities.
Despite Georgia's willingness to enhance the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities, as manifested in its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the fulfilment of obligations stipulated in national laws and international conventions remains insufficient. The principal purpose of this document is to promote the revision, enhancement, and effective implementation of the existing legislative framework while considering the experiences of persons with disabilities to ensure the effective protection of their rights.
The United Nations Convention is a pivotal framework for improving the legal and socio-economic status of persons with disabilities and fostering sustainability. Since the convention's ratification in 2013 (coming into effect in 2014), Georgia has taken important steps toward aligning its national laws with the convention's provisions. A tangible example of this commitment is the adoption of Georgia's Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2020.
The quantitative survey conducted as part of this study once again underscores that persons with disabilities possess insufficient knowledge regarding international and local legal documents and the mechanisms for their utilisation and monitoring. While they possess a basic understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities and the corresponding obligations of the state, there remains a critical need to base this knowledge on facts and to improve access to information.
Focus-group interviews with organisations of persons with disabilities have revealed that their participation in the decision-making process is relatively limited and ineffective since they are not recognised as experts in the field. Additionally, critical issues emerge in terms of law enforcement and monitoring. The opinions expressed in these focus-group discussions indicate that monitoring systems for various services and accessibility standards are not functioning optimally.
Furthermore, there is a need to create or enhance unified action plans and strategies addressing diverse issues at the central and municipal levels. In certain instances, the state's approach to persons with disabilities relies on outdated approaches, which require changes.