UNDP Kazakhstan presents National report on rights of disabled people – Ust-Kamenogorsk

This year's strategic document concerns the status and prospects regarding the resolution of one of the long-lasting and troubling issues our society has; how to create the conditions for adequate realization of the rights of people with disabilities.

Chairman of the United Nations Association in Kazakhstan Zhaken Kaliuly and Deputy Mayor of the East-Kazakhstan Oblast Makhat Sadykov addressed their opening speech to the attendees.

First Vice Director of the Nur Otan Party Parliamentary System Institute Zhanargul Kusmangaliyeva in her report "From Isolation to Equality: Realization of Rights of Disabled People in Kazakhstan" noted that the topic of the National report on human development for 2009 was caused by global changes towards the issues of disabled people worldwide.  According to her the beneficial position is being gradually replaced by a new concept founded on human rights.

In December 2008 by signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol Kazakhstan has demonstrated its serious intentions to introduce important reforms in the system of human rights in the domain of disabilities, which will reflect the principles of dignity and full involvement, equality and accessibility.

According to the Kazakh Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population there are 466,300 disabled people in Kazakhstan, or about 3% of the entire population. One third of this number are people of productive age, and 10% are children.