Ruling party official: impact of human rights, humanitarian law violations is particularly severe for persons with disabilities, among all ethnic groups residing in Russia-occupied territories of Georgia
Rati Ionatamishvili
Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Wednesday addressed the 17th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York, emphasising Georgia's commitment to disability rights and its recent EU candidate status.
In his speech, Ionatamishvili emphasised the importance of the overarching thematic focus of the current session on disability inclusion.
“I am honoured to address you today on behalf of my country, Georgia, a proud and independent nation where the rule of law, human rights, principles of transparency, and both traditional and European values are upheld to the highest standards. A year ago, I stood before you discussing Georgia's anticipation of receiving candidate status from the European Union, highlighting the significant contributions of Georgian individuals with disabilities in this journey, particularly in the context of global peacekeeping efforts”, Ionatamishvili said.
He highlighted Georgia's strategic role in connecting Europe and Asia, stressing the importance of peace and freedom for the country.
“I would like to emphasise the importance of the overarching thematic focus of the current session on disability inclusion. Looking ahead to the Summit of the Future, let us reiterate our commitment to further advance the disability rights with leaving no one behind. One of the areas that we also address within this session is the protection of the persons with disabilities in humanitarian emergencies”, Ionatamishvili noted.
He also addressed the protection of persons with disabilities in humanitarian emergencies, pointing out that occupation poses a significant threat, particularly in Russia-occupied territories of Georgia.
Ionatamishvili called for stronger international support and intensified humanitarian efforts to improve conditions for conflict-affected people in these regions, where pressure from the Russian Federation complicates the work of UN agencies and INGOs.
“In conclusion, 2024 marks the year of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics—a significant event for the 1.2 billion disabled individuals worldwide and for every global citizen. The Paralympic Games exemplify the ideals of equality, peace, and freedom. I am confident that the day is not far when we will achieve Paralympic success alongside our Georgian Abkhazian and Ossetian brothers and sisters. No to occupation! Yes to pis and equality!”, he concluded.
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