Disability and New Realities

2007-03-06

Today within the framework of the OSIAFA and Dutch Government-funded project, Unison NGO organized a press conference and round table in “Congress” Hotel on the topic “Disability and New Realities”. Leaders of 14 disability and human rights NGOs, as well as journalists representing nine Armenian TV channels, several radio companies and newspapers participated in the event. The problem of implementation of electoral rights for voters with various disabilities was one of the main topics of the agenda. Executive Director of Unison Armen Alaverdyan answered numerous questions from the journalists. Issues of the accessibility of polling stations for wheelchair users, coverage of the election campaign for hard of hearing citizens and voting opportunities for visually impaired voters were touched upon during the event.

Representatives of the various NGOs discussed new methods of collaboration and established an Information Network by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation. Problems of public monitoring of recently adopted disability-related legal acts and other actual issues concluded the discussion.