In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed

Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.

On the occasion of the solemn signing of the document, a round table was held in Stoubcy with representatives of the public organizations that worked on the agenda, and with local authorities. Participants of the campaign “Agenda 50” aimed at implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the local level, were personally congratulated by Lene Petersen, a representative of the non-profit organization “European House" (Denmark).

- You have demonstrated full dedication to our business, and now we have approached the signing of the document. In order for the changes to be large-scale, there must be a shift at the state level. But please follow your local ideas, as they are based on the needs of local population, and no one is more aware of these needs than you. We are convinced that working at the local level plays an extremely important role, said Lene Petersen.

Lene Petersen. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

She also added that she was impressed by the efficiency and speed with which the participants prepared a local agenda and implemented a local mini-project, as well as by its quality.

It is assumed that the local agenda will be the foundation for the work of the local community.

The head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski told the audience about the draft law “On the Rights and Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities”. According to him, the draft law still has certain imperfections, but at the same time contains a number of innovations.

- In particular, it introduces the concepts of discrimination, universal design, inclusion, and also addresses the issues of integrating people with disabilities into society to improve the quality of their life. After all, it is impossible to reduce everything only to social support, says Siarhei Drazdouski.

According to him, this integration will be built not "vertically", but "horizontally": representatives of all sectors of the economy, as well as people with disabilities who jointly solve actual problems will be represented in each local council. Well, according to Siarhei Drazdouski, we still do not have the practice of collegial interaction between the branches of government and people dealing with disability issues.

From left to right: Zinaida Kotlashevskaya (Belarusian Society of Disabled People), Alexander Klimash (Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons), Zhanna Lysaya (Stoubcy District Executive Committee), Siarhei Drazdouski. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

- We see that the practice of creating local agendas is one of the most effective methods today. We would like the agendas, which already exist in the five pilot cities, to be an example for other regions. It is important that this does not remain a project, but become a set of permanent activities. At the same time, these documents will need to be developed, clarified - they will be “living” documents. We are lobbying for this activity at the legislative level so that it will receive support throughout the country, head of the Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities noted.

Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

The local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed by representatives of the Stoubcy-based organizations of Belarusian Society of Disabled People and Belarusian Association of Visually Impaired Persons, Stoubcy District Executive Committee, Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, and Nikolay Novikov, Assistant Deputy of Elena Anisim.

Svetlana Blashko, Director of Stoubcy Territorial Center for Social Services, spoke about the work on creating a local agenda.

- At first it was very difficult to decide how we would do it, she noted. Our task was to work on the document in such a way as to outline in it all the problems and goals. We identified problems, managed to sort them out, select the most global ones, and then work with them.

Svetlana Blashko. Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

The main objectives of the local agenda in Stoubcy are the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities, legal awareness, solving the problems of people with disabilities, and their participation in solving these problems.

Zinaida Kotlashevskaya, chairwoman of the district organization of Belarusian Society of Disabled People, spoke about the “Open Dialogue” mini-project, which was implemented as part of the campaign “Agenda 50” and consisted primarily in informing people with disabilities and their families about their rights. Under the mini-project, a round table and informational meetings with the population of the district were held, booklets were printed. Now the project funded by the European Union has been successfully completed.

Photo of the "EuroBelarus" information service

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The material was prepared in the framework of the international project "Rights of People with Disabilities: agenda for Belarus (Agenda 50)".

The campaign "Agenda 50" is being implemented with the support of the European Union in partnership with the Fundacja TUS (Poland) and the PA "European House" (Denmark). Office for the Rights of People with Disabilities, International Consortium "EuroBelarus" and Center for European Transformation participate in the campaign implementation in Belarus.