DUSHANBE, August 7, 2013, Asia-Plus -- According to press release issued by UNICEF CO in Tajikistan, one of the main issues discussed at the 4th Child Protection Forum for Central Asia on “Creating Inclusive Policies, Systems and Services for Children with Disabilities” that took place in Dushanbe on August 1-3 was the accessibility for people with disabilities.

Towards that end, together with the Disabled People’s Organizations from Tajikistan, namely the Coalition of NGOs and DPOs for the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNICEF has organize an Accessibility Tour in Dushanbe City as part of the Safe and Friendly Dushanbe initiative.

The main aim of this tour is to bring attention to this issue and learn from the experts who themselves have disabilities, on how the situation can be improved as well as to provide inputs to standards for accessibility that is being developed in Tajikistan.

This event that will take place today between 14:00 – 16:00 will be attended by Ms. Rosangela Berman-Bieler, the  Senior Adviser on Children with Disabilities from UNICEF Headquarters, who is also a wheelchair user as well as  representatives of DPOs, international organizations and invited media.  The group is expected to visit different sites, including TSUM, National Library, selected health facilities, schools, and other governmental and non-governmental buildings.