Albania urged to increase support to people with disabilities

TIRANA, April 9 – Promoting the rights of disabled people by strengthening the capacities of the Albanian National Council of People with Disabilities (ANCPD) and relevant civil society organizations was the focus of a roundtable discussion organized last week in Tirana by the OSCE Presence and the British Council Albania.
Particiapnts at the activity there were Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, OSCE Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth and British Ambassador Fiona McIlwham taking part at the discussion between ANCPD members, representatives of civil society organizations, state institutions and international community
“The 130,000 disabled people living in Albania represent one of the most marginalized groups”, stressed Ambassador Wollfarth in his address to the event participants. “It is time to strengthen the efforts in re-activating the National Council, assisting it in implementing the law and enforcing a co-operation model between state and civil society effectively promoting rights and fundamental freedoms of disabled people, in particular their integration in public life,” he added.
British Ambassador Fiona McIlwham stated: “As well as raising awareness and challenging perceptions, people, and particularly people affected by disabilities, need to feel change. Albania now must take firm steps towards strengthening legislation which will ultimately improve the lives of thousands of people with disabilities.” She added that “achieving a society based on true equality for all is a long and not easy journey. A journey which we in the UK are still on. Which is why when next summer London host the 2012 Olympic Games it has pledged to make this the most inclusive games in the history of the Olympics.”
Participants, discussed a draft strategy for the work of the National Council prepared by an international expert funded by the Presence and the British Council Albania. Issues concerning accessibility, employment challenges and the relationship between disabled people and the media were also discussed.
Ironically one of the disabled person exploited the place and the presence of the premier to personally hand over to him a request for assistance.