Experts Discussed IPA CIS Work in Field of Social Protection of People With Disabilities

On 23 September, St. Petersburg hosted the International Conference on the Development of Social and Rehabilitation Services for People with Disabilities. The event was held at the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Scientific and Educational Centre of Medial and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation named after G.A. Albreht” of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation.

The conference was attended by representatives of the relevant ministries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the Eurasian Economic Commission, the General Confederation of Trade Unions, the Interstate Statistical Committee and the CIS Executive Committee and heads of national rehabilitation centers.

The event discussed topical issues of the development of the social security system for people with disabilities in the CIS countries, innovative approaches in the provision of social and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, and the development of social inclusion.

Secretary of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights, Executive Secretary of the IPA CIS Expert Advisory Board on Public Health Evgenia Vladimirova said that the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly had adopted a number of documents guaranteeing the realization of the rights and freedoms of citizens with disabilities. Among them are the Charter of Social Rights and Guarantees for the Citizens of the CIS Member Nations, the Concept of the Legal Framework and Implementation of Principles of Welfare State in the CIS Member Nations, the Model Law on Welfare of Disabled Persons (2008).

The participants discussed the possibility of addressing the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights to consider and decide on the preparation of a Revised Model Law on Welfare of Disabled Persons.