According to the Ombudsman, there are positive changes related to people with down syndrome in Georgia, though these people are still facing barriers in the process of their rights’ implementation.
“It is still a challenge to provide people with down syndrome with the quality uninterrupted inclusive pre-school, secondary, professional, and high education, and mobilization of material and human resources for it. The access to social and health services persist in being a problem for these people, as well as the stigma and attitude of the society.” – reads the Ombudsman’s statement.
She also mentions that the available statistical data, researches, and programs/services are not sufficient. The early intervention in down syndrome children remains a problem, as well as the territorial coverage and the cost of the services.
The Georgian Ombudsman calls for the government to undertake the result-oriented steps in these directions.
March 21 is the International Day of People with Down Syndrome. The day is being marked since 2011 with the initiative from the UN General Assembly aiming at public awareness raise on people with the down syndrome.
