EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is fully consistent with the priorities and strategies that the Republic of Uzbekistan has planned for the period of 2016-2020. The process of developing a new UNDAF is scrupulously coordinated with the ministries and government agencies, many important meetings and consultations have been held with partners and donors to discuss the methods of its implementation and monitoring, the need to collect data that will help to carry out more targeted development projects.

The implementation of joint programs to further improve the welfare of people with disabilities in Uzbekistan were raised at the meeting of UNDAF Working Group, held in Tashkent in the Ministry of Labor.

The event was attended by representatives of UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, WHO and UNFPA. The occasion was opened by the co-chairman of the working group, Uzbekistan’s Labor Minister Aziz Abduhakimov. He noted the special significance of the well-being of people with disabilities in the framework of developing the state program “Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests”. One of the priorities of the government program, specified by the President of Uzbekistan, is to create equal opportunities for all citizens.

The preparatory phase of the program, designed for 2016-2020 is already being implemented, envisaging a situation analysis that will help work out specific activities to introduce advanced foreign experience and mobilize resources in Uzbekistan across healthcare, education, employment and social protection of children and adults with disabilities.

On the need to provide comprehensive early care for children with developmental disabilities spoke the head of UNICEF office in Uzbekistan, co-chairman of the working group Sascha Graumann. According to him, such measures will help children to integrate more easily into society and realize their full potential.

International expert on disability issues of UN agencies, Dr. Mina Mojtahedi, on the basis of her stay in Uzbekistan, conducted analysis on the delivery of an accessible environment for people with mobility difficulties. Presenting the results, she noted that Uzbekistan can serve as an example for other countries in the region. The expert thanked the representatives of the ministries of labor, healthcare, education and finance, as well as the republican inspection of medico-social examination, for their professionalism and support in the development of methodology for situation analysis.

Jahon Information Agency