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Today Unison NGO held an interactive forum entitled “Dream and Reality” in Moscow Cinema, during which a photo exhibition launched featuring short videos revealing public opinion and presentation of publications.

Armen Alaverdyan, Executive Director of the Unison NGO, told Panorama.am that such a forum aims at presenting the public opinion on people with disabilities more precisely and breaking stereotypes.

“The public opinion naturally changes through the course of time, but it is a slow process. Now we don’t look at such people with surprised or pitiful eyes, but there are some stereotypes among the employees that prevent them from integration,” A. Alaverdyan said.

Hayk Papikyan does not see but he is engaged in a number of activities: he is a massager, a historian and sings in “Paros” Choir.

“I implement diverse programs. We have implemented the latest one entitled “Society without Discrimination” in the nearby cities. Our goal is to help the parents of the children with disabilities to figure out what methods to use to treat them, so that a child puts some goals in front of him and tries to reach them instead of feeling disappointment,” Hayk noted.

According to him there are many obstacles on the way to reach a goal, but all of them can be overcome.

“Number one issue of the people with disabilities is employment. If solved it will be great. When a person having a disability enters a university, the state spends money on him. But if one thing is done, it should be done completely, namely they should be provided with jobs,” Hayk Papikyan noted.

Shushan Nahapetyan works at Unison NGO. In het works it is already a success when a person works.

“A couple of years ago I lived a totally different life. I am glad that currently I have a job, I am married and have a son. Of course there are many obstacles, but a person should put a goal in front of him and reach it. It is difficult for everyone in this world. A person does not have to get detached. People need to understand that we are all equal to each other and each person in this world has the right to live and to create,” Sh. Nahapetyan said.

She believed the inequality between people will disappear through the course of time: all the people will be equal.
UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Permanent Representative in Armenia Bradley Busetto told Panorama.am that the issue of people with disabilities should be voiced and presented as much as possible.

“They are not very different from us. They are similar to us. The most important thing is for them to be integrated in the society. They have rights of receiving education and working. The equality of people in the society is of paramount importance,” Bradley Busetto noted.

According to him the Armenian government has undertaken quite positive measures regarding the issue, but it is necessary to take more efforts.

Artur Kesoyan, Head of the Department of Disabled and Elderly Persons' Affairs of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, said the issues of the people with disabilities have become more actual during the last years.

“We have drawn up a draft law on “Disability” which will be submitted to the government. After the National Assembly passes the law we will work in total compliance with that law, which includes all the affairs regarding the people with disabilities. The law prescribes separate provisions and articles for all the state departments. All the ministries are directly related to the issues of people with disabilities,” A. Kesoyan noted.