Sunday, 3 December 2006
Address by RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan's On the Occasion of International Day of Invalids
In accordance with a UN General Assembly Resolution, the third day of December is marked worldwide as the International Day of Invalids.
There is a diversity of challenges faced by disabled people in our Republic, inclusive of the environmental accessibility-related problems, implementation of medical and social rehabilitation-oriented measures and creation of jobs for invalids. As much important is the elimination of social displays of discriminatory treatment with regard to the invalids. Considerable efforts are being made to that effect by both public agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The problems faced by the disabled have always been kept in the focus of the government of Armenia with the needed action taken to address them. In particular, the 2006-2015 strategy for the social protection of disabled persons was adopted in 2005 to provide for equal conditions and possibilities for those suffering from disability. A council on disability affairs was established by the Prime Minister quite recently to enhance the efficiency of State policies aimed at the social integration of disabled persons. A relief fund for the disabled is due to be established in the near future to provide financial backing to those non-governmental organizations dealing with the problems of invalids.
Though the problems available in this field are diversified and call for consistent efforts, I am confident that we shall be in a position to address all of them through concerted action.
