On 13 November 2018, the Consultative Council of Protecting, Promoting and Monitoring the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held its 16th meeting. The meeting was led by Public Defender Nino Lomjaria.

The Public Defender said at the opening of the meeting that November 13 was International Day of the Blind, the aim of which was to promote the realization of the rights of these persons, especially the right to education. The meeting was attended by several representatives of the community of blind people, who talked about the challenges faced by the blind and persons with vision impartment, such as inclusive education, provision of necessary items to them, environmental access, etc.

Ekaterine Skhiladze, Deputy Public Defender of Georgia, briefed the Council members of the development of national guidelines and strategy of national mechanism for monitoring the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the ongoing reorganization. Rusudan Kokhodze, Deputy Head of the Department of Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, introduced the measures implemented and planned by the Department for the protection and monitoring of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Participants of the meeting discussed the implementation of the UN Convention and current situation of the rights of persons with disabilities in the country, including the involvement of persons with disabilities in the decision-making process by the central and local authorities, assessment of the development of family type services and deinstitutionalization, effectiveness of support system, etc.

When summarizing the meeting, members of the Council agreed on the priority issues of the Public Defender's Office within the framework of monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for 2019.