The first group of representatives of different Belarusian institutions, NGOs and initiatives, working with persons with disabilities, finished participation in study seminar “Lifetime study: employment and social activation of persons with disabilities” in the frames of which the study visit to Poland was organized.

The expert of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities Galina Krot explained, that Belarusian and Polish specialists managed to get acquainted not only with the theory – legal base of the discussed topic, but also with practical examples. Visits to different social institutions of Poland became a wonderful opportunity to understand the topic better. Institutions’ conditions and infrastructure give persons with disabilities opportunity to study and to work in comfort. The participants had also tried to analyze what experience our country can adopt from the neighboring country, what barriers exist in Belarus and how we can overcome them.

A unique for our country event “Accessibility Week” took place in Minsk from May 17 till May 22 in the frames of the information campaign “Accessibility”. It was devoted to problems of all the kinds of Accessibility for persons with disabilities. Educational HR defence organization “Office for the rights of persons with disabilities” became the organizer of the event. Accessibility Week consisted of 16 different events: public lectures and discussion, master-classes, accessibility forum, showings of documentaries and social ads, opening and award ceremonies for the winners of accessibility symbol contest. 

The results of the contest organized by the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities were summed up. Nominees and winners were announced during the award ceremony held in the frames of “Accessibility Week”.

The winners were announced by the ceremony’s host – a member of the jury Alexander Shevelevich (Kryn - Starcom Mediavest Groupe Belarus).

Marina Muchina and Marina Ustinova became the winners of the contest.

Accessibility Week dedicated to problems of all the types of Accessibility for persons with disabilities will be held for the first time in the Republic of Belarus. HR defence and educational organization “Office for the rights of persons with disabilities” is the organizer of the event. The event will be held under the slogan “From accessibility to equality”. Accessibility Week is an informal, nonstandard, inclusive and open for everyone event.

“The aim of the event is the raise of attention to and understanding of the problems of persons with disabilities in the frames of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. We invite all the interested people, NGOs and state owned organizations to take part in Accessibility Week, to present their ideas and projects on this topic, to discuss and to communicate. If your activities are aimed at the raise of Accessibility for persons with disabilities you are welcome to share your experience and success”, said about the event the coordinator of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities Sergey Drozdovskiy.

On April 18 International conference “Topical problems equality principle realization in law. European experience: from theory to practice” took place. Educational HR defence organization “Office for the rights of persons with disabilities” in cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg fund are the organizers of the event.

The main principle of equality of all people is pronounced in the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But it is not properly used in everyday life, not speaking about different aspects of human communications in the society. The main principle of equality is in the basis of principle of justice.

On April 18, 2013 international conference “Topical problems of quality principal realization in law. European experience: from theory to practice” will be held in Minsk. Educational HR defence organization “Office for the rights of persons with disabilities” in cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg fund are the organizers of the event.

The Office for the rights of persons with disabilities summed up the results of the contest of essay on topic “Accessibility and Disability”. This year the members of the jury were unanimous – the winner is Irina Dergach with the essay “Students, who were not waited for”. The essay is about accessibility of education for children with disability, in particular, for children with autism. This problem is important for me, because my elder child is an autist. And I learned at first hand how schools don’t want to accept such kids, do not want to see them.

The Office for the rights of persons with disabilities on February 28, 2013 held round table “Accessibility of legal assistance for persons with disabilities”. It took place in the frames of information campaign “Accessibility”. Law clinic of Belarusian State Economic University became our partner in this initiative.

Once again, the Essl Foundation, the World Future Council and Bank Austria have joined forces to convene an international conference in Vienna, Austria. On this occasion, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, we aim to raise awareness about innovative solutions from around the world that implement employment rights of persons with disabilities.  The conference  seeks to strengthen the commitment of all stakeholders to promote, protect and advance the rights of persons with disabilities, and to improve their employment situation.

The project of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities “Monitoring of barrier-free environment” is finished.

The presentation of its results took place on February 6, 2013. Office for the rights of persons with disabilities presented “Guidelines for monitoring the accessibility of architectural objects, buildings and constructions for persons with disabilities” and the instrument for monitoring of accessibility of construction objects for persons with disabilities and other categories of weak persons.