Mesrop Arakelyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, presented the issue of approving the implementation schedule of the ‘Social Inclusion Action Plan’ and the protection of the rights of people with disabilities during military service at the Government session today.
The Minister stated that the adoption of the draft is due to the necessity to protect the basic rights of people with disabilities during the recent Artsakh war, as well as in military service in general, and to ensure their social inclusion.
“People, who were injured or got disabilities during the war, will face a new reality in public life when various environmental and personal factors may hinder their ability to lead an independent life.
They get rehabilitation treatment to restore their functionality at different rehabilitation centers in Yerevan; however, their social inclusion measures are not enough to ensure their full participation in public life. Systematic, targeted and complex measures can minimize their problems, eliminate environmental barriers, and promote the full implementation of their human rights,” Arakelyan stated.
Actions are developed in accordance with the measures program, aimed at the social inclusion of people with disabilities due to military service and the provision of independent life through a set of social, employment, educational, cultural, and economic programs.
“It is planned to create independent life centers, where people who got disabilities as a result of the war will be provided with services. These centers will provide self-help programs for people with disabilities, personal assistance, career guidance and career planning services. Such centers are planned to be created in six provinces in the first phase of the program,” the Minister stated.