Study visit in Ljubljana and Vienna between 14 and 18 October 2013

ITF Enhancing Human Security (ITF), from Slovenia in cooperation with local partners IOM Armenia and IOM Georgia and with financial contribution of Austrian Development Agency is implementing the project “Socio-Economic Reintegration Programme for Mine Victims in South Caucasus”. Regional project implements human rights based approach and promotes the rights and needs of mine victims through the framework of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the purpose of guaranteeing mine victims the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights set out in the Convention.

In the scope of the project and in co-ordination with Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection, ITF successfully organized a study visit for Armenian and Georgian delegations between 14 and 18 October 2013  (3 day visit in Ljubljana, Slovenia and  1 day visit in Vienna, Austria). The purpose of the study visit was to introduce and present to participants from Armenia and Georgia programmes and policies relevant for socio-economic inclusion of disabled and how they were developed in the context of transition in Slovenia as well as in Austria. The focus was on the area of employment and education, presenting participants with concrete policies and approaches for ensuring fulfilment of rights for persons with disabilities.

The participants of the study visit in Ljubljana and Vienna were: from Armenia (Mr.Artak Simonyan, State Employment Service Agency, Ms.Varduhi Gevorgyan, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and Ms.Shamam Ghazaryan from NGO "Ughekic" ), from Georgia (Ms.  Mariam Tarasashvili, Ministry of Labour Health and Social Affairs, Ms. Marika Zakareishvili, Ministry of Education and Science, Ms. Madona Kharebava, Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children and Ms. Natia Kvitsiani from IOM Georgia,National Programme Officer at IOM Georgia) and from ITF (Nataša Uršič and Barbara Mali).