Round table on improving employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and creating accessible environment took place in Dushanbe

The issues of creating employment opportunities for the persons with disabilities as well as creating accessible environment have been discussed during the round table.  The results of analyses of compliance of the legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan, especially the Labor Code of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan "On Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities" with the principles of the UNCRPD with focus on the right of persons with disabilities  to work and the concept of reasonable accommodation in the context of employment of persons with disabilities were presented during the event.

Deputy Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, Ms. Dilrabo Mansuri pointed out the importance of disability inclusion and policy measures to create enabled environment for employment of persons with disabilities as well as actions toward ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ms Parvathy Ramaswami, UN Resident Coordinator noted: “Employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are crucial for them to live meaningful lives and are essential for their social inclusion. When we secure the rights of people with disabilities to employment, we move closer to achieving the central promise of the SDGs – “Leave no one behind.”

Mr Asadullo Zikrikhudoev, Chair of the Union of PWDs mentioned: “Improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities will promote an inclusive workplace that values all employees for their strengths. It provides employees with disabilities with equal opportunities for success, training, fair compensation, and advancement. True inclusion is about accepting differences and only this way we can ensure inclusive sustainable development”.

The round table participants have shared their views and recommendations to improve the situation and had a chance to review the practice of the Republic of Kazakhstan on employment of persons with disabilities, presented by Ms. Lyazzat Kaltaeva, a member of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Note: This initiative is supported by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office as a part of UN Country Team Disability Inclusion Strategy implementation. The strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and development. The Strategy enables the UN system to support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international human rights instruments.