Today, a symposium on the “Employment and building capacity of the disadvantaged and people with disabilities in the RA” is held in Yerevan, which aimed at discussing the results and achievements of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project implemented by “Mission Armenia” charitable non-governmental organization.

The symposium was organized with the support of the Government of the RA, the World Bank and with the financial assistance of Japan Social Development Fund. 

Ms. Jemma Baghdasaryan, the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, H.E. Eiji Taguchi, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan in the RA,, Ms. Laura Bailey, the World Bank Country Manager for Armenia, as well as Ms. Marina Petrovic, Senior Social protection Sepcialist from the World Bank,  Aleksandra Posarac, Lead Economist from the World Bank and past-president of International Council on Social Welfare, leading international expert of the sector Solveig Askjem participated in the discussion.     

During the symposium the goals and the issues of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project, implemented activities under the project components and achievements have been presented and summarized, key issues and their possible solutions on raising awareness concerning important social key problems of people with disabilities have been also discussed.

“I am happy that the representatives of state and local self-governing bodies, international and local organizations, sector experts and persons with disabilities are participating in the discussion. Together we are building a road leading to social inclusion, which demands will, potential, time and resources and which will enable people with disabilities to create and lead a worthy life՚՚ mentioned the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jemma Baghdasaryan, when greeting the participants of the symposium.

“Mission Armenia” representative, “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project coordinator Sophie Nersisyan on behalf of “Mission Armenia” NGO president Hripsime Kirakosyan greeted the participants, expressing words of appreciation and wishing  a  productive work.

“Our symposium is a great opportunity to share the results, appreciate the achievements of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project, to highlight the reached benchmarks, as well as to discuss key issues,” noted Sophy Nersisyan, expressing special thanks to the project initiators, state and private sector colleagues, project experts, as well as the professional team implementing the project for their dedicated and professional work.  In her speech Jemma Baghdasaryan spoke about the key problems of people with disabilities in the RA.

“Social policy in the field of disability has been recognized as a priority by RA Government. The Government has announced the 2016 as a year of equal opportunity for people with disabilities. In 2016, it is planned to pass a law on “Protection of rights of persons with disabilities and social inclusion”, the draft has been presented to the Government. It implies a clear definition of mechanisms for implementation of the lprovisions in the relevant secondary legislation. I am convinced that social inclusion will be promoted due to the work that has been carried out and will be done in future,” has noted Jemma Baghdasaryan.

World Bank Country Manager for Armenia, Ms. Laura Bailey mentioned that this kind of support is really tangible; in order to assess the work done it is enough to speak with a person with disability.  

“Certainly, today we need to improve laws and allocate funds, but the most important thing is the comprehensive and constructive approach towards the evaluation and satisfaction of those persons’ needs,” mentioned Ms. Laura Bailey, the World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.

H.E. Eiji Taguchi, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan in the RA has noted that Japan highlights the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the society, public works, since it has a positive impact on economic liberalism. 

Representatives of state, private and public sectors, donor organizations, media, colleagues, project beneficiaries, sector experts, researchers have taken part in the symposium on the “Employment and building capacity of the disadvantaged and people with disabilities in the RA”.