The governor of Almaty met with a special reporter of UN on the rights of disabled people

The governor of the megapolis has mentioned that in Almaty there is a Coordinating Council in the field of social protection of citizens with disabilities, which includes representatives of civil society. With the participation of NGOs, special social services are provided in a hospital, a semi-hospital and home-based care. Important attention is paid to the introduction in the city of inclusive education, vocational rehabilitation and access to the objects of transport, social, sports, cultural infrastructure for disabled people.

Bauyrzhan Baibek has noted that today there are more than 43,000 citizens with disabilities living in the city. This year more than 4 billions tenge has been allocated from the budget to support citizens with disabilities with technical aids and services, which is twice as much as last year. Qualitative equipment is purchased, pedestrian zones are reconstructed taking into account the less mobile people.

"If the city will be comfortable for people with disabilities, it means it will be convenient for everyone. But the most important thing is the spirit of solidarity, support not only of the state, but also of the population directly," B. Baibek said.

In turn, Catalina Devandas Aguilar noted that in the Republic of Kazakhstan there is not only political will, but concrete work is being done to improve the living conditions of citizens with disabilities.

"The country's legislation is brought to international standards, foreign experience of innovative social practices of working with disabled people is applied, this indicates an integrated approach," added the UN special rapporteur on the rights of disabled people.

In addition, she positively assessed the fact that the interests of citizens with disabilities are represented in the maslikhat of Almaty. According to Catalina Devandas Aguilar, this contributes to a more effective socialization of disabled people in society as a whole.