On 3 December 2018, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria presented a report on the legislation regulating the access to environment for persons with disabilities. Representatives of state agencies and organizations of persons with disabilities attended the meeting.

At the opening of the event, the Public Defender talked about the study conducted in 2017-2018 and noted that despite the obligations undertaken within the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, access to environment for persons with disabilities remains one of the major challenges. The Georgian legislation does not comply with the requirements of the UN Convention. The country has not developed a vision or document in this direction; regulations are fragmented in various legislative acts and cannot ensure provision of a safe, barrier-free and accessible environment for persons with disabilities in any building or public space.

“Accessibility is closely linked to all other rights and it is impossible to talk about quality education, employment or engagement in the public life without access to environment," Nino Lomjaria said.

The Public Defender considers that "Technical regulation of architectural and planning elements and arrangement of space for persons with disabilities" adopted in 2014 is based on outdated standards, does not consider the interests of persons with various disabilities or provide for an effective enforcement mechanism.

The modern American standard - "Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities" (ICC A.117), referred by the Government in its resolution N41 of 28 January 2016, is not available in Georgian, while the level of its awareness is low among the relevant agencies of central/local authorities or citizens. In addition, the legislation does not consider the American standard as the only obligatory regulation.

Construction standards regulating the arrangement of space for persons with disabilities have barely been introduced in the municipalities of Georgia, while their execution is not properly supervised.

The Government develops strategic documents without the real involvement of relevant experts, persons with disabilities or organizations working on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The ineffectiveness of mechanisms of enforcement and supervision of the norms regulating the arrangement of space for persons with disabilities, as well as the use of preventive and repressive measures by the relevant services, including by the municipalities, remains a challenge.

The Public Defender addressed the responsible state agencies with specific recommendations aimed at timely and effective resolution of the identified problems.

Nino Lomjaria presented the special report within the framework of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked on December 3. The purpose of this day is to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in all areas and to draw the attention of a wider public to the problems and challenges of these persons.