Representatives of Government and Civil Society Organizations participated in UN’s backed Induction Training on Cross-cutting Approaches and Preconditions for Disability Inclusive Development

On May 19 Under the leadership of UN RC Office in Armenia, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA organized a UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) induction training entitled “Cross-cutting Approaches and Preconditions for Disability Inclusive Development” designated for Government and Civil Society Organizations’ representatives.

More than 30 participants from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Armenia, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Human Rights Defender’s Office, Yerevan Mayor’s Office, and various organizations of Persons with Disabilities participated in the 5-day training that took place on 19-21 and 26-27 May.

The official opening of the training was made by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in Armenia, Tatevik Stepanyan, and UNRCO Partnerships and Development Finance Adviser, Arevik Anapiosyan. The Induction training aimed to prepare the stakeholders and other partners to jointly complete the Situational Analysis and to develop strong joint programming proposals in line with UNPRPD’s Strategic Operational Framework (SOF) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which will be later submitted to UNPRPD MPTF 4th round of funding.

“We are certain UNPRPD’s theory of change for supporting disability inclusion at country level (CRPD and inclusive SDGSs implementation) will support governments’ policy and systems changes. It is important to have an advanced understanding on how to implement CRPD and SDGSs into practice, depending on Armenia’s obligations.” said Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia. “We trust UN support will enhance the development of an inclusive environment for the disability friendly policies and practices.”

UNPRPD MPTF 4th round of funding launched in August 2020 aims to advance CRPD implementation at the country level by focusing on the essential preconditions for disability inclusion across sectors, translating these into concrete policies, programmes, and to improve and increase the implementation of disability inclusive SDGs at the country level by providing fundamental support to the UN’s collective response to the SDGSs to address national priorities and gaps concerning persons with disabilities in national planning.

“The new UNPRPD funded project is yet another opportunity for UNDP to join forces with UNICEF and UNFPA in striving for an inclusive development and integration of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and disability inclusive SDGs. The induction training in this sense, was a great set of tools to inform wider inclusive planning within the country and disability mainstreaming in all programmes,” said Mihaela Stojkoska, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Armenia.

“This is a great initiative that demonstrates how by joining forces we can bring change into the lives of every single one of us”, said Tsovinar Harutyunyan, UNFPA Head of Office.

“The training blended learning on a number of issues related to children with disabilities, such as accessibility, adjusting existing services to specific needs, as well as accountability of relevant entities in not only implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but also in making sure that results are sustained,” said Ms Silvia Mestroni, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Armenia. “The training also emphasized gender equality issues and the need to advance the rights of girls and women with disabilities. Together with UN sister agencies and partners, UNICEF will continue to provide a platform for exchange of knowledge and experiences to advance inclusive development in Armenia.”

The training and the developed joint programing proposal will assist the Government in establishing a policy framework to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to support services that are available, accessible, adequate, and affordable, and provided under a community-based approach and strengthen service provision at local levels and are closer to the places of living of persons with disabilities in some of the regions of Armenia, with support of UNCT and UNDP and UNICEF in particular.

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The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNPRPD MPTF) is a unique collaboration that brings together UN entities, governments, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and broader civil society to advance the rights of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and disability inclusive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGSs). UNPRPD MPTF was created to foster collaboration between its members and complement their work on disability inclusion through UN joint programming. Since 2012, UNPRPD MPTF has supported over 49 joint UN programmes in 39 countries across regions, mobilizing over $40 million USD.