Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 28 May, during the next plenary meeting of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was considered and approved.

The senators stressed that the ratification of the Convention will create additional guarantees in Uzbekistan to ensure the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, serve as a guideline for further improving legislation, and strengthen the responsibility of state bodies in terms of social protection of persons with disabilities and ensuring equal opportunities for them.

The adoption of the Convention will allow:

firstly, to unify the national system of social protection of persons with disabilities with the best international standards;

secondly, to create opportunities for attracting international and foreign grant funds to strengthen social protection of disabled people;

thirdly, to improve the international image of Uzbekistan in the area of social protection of the population.

The Convention consists of 50 articles aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, eliminating discrimination against them, ensuring their right to work, health care, education and full participation in society, access to justice, personal integrity, freedom from exploitation and abuse, freedom of movement, individual mobility and many others.

The senators stressed that the adopted Law on the ratification of the Convention should serve to strengthen the socio-legal approach to disability in society.

During the discussions, the senators noted that by ratifying this Convention, Uzbekistan assumes international obligations to improve the appropriate infrastructure for people with disabilities (adaptation of residential and public buildings, transport, a number of services), as well as the formation of moral and spiritual guidelines, implying the eradication among the population of prejudices and stereotypes.

Thus, the adoption of the law demonstrates the firm commitment and ongoing efforts of the leadership of Uzbekistan to develop civil society institutions, as well as to comply with the principles of equal participation and access to resources, the implementation of political and civil rights of citizens without discrimination.