WFD EEMARS Meeting in Minsk

On 17 – 20 February 2009 in Minsk (Belarus) there has passed the next meeting of the WFD EEMARS.

WFD President, Markku Jokinen, VOG President Valery Rukhledev, and leaders of the National Deaf Associations from countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Tajikistan have taken part in work of the WFD EEMARS.

After report of V. Rukhledev, Regional Director EEMARS, participants of Meeting have highly appreciated the contribution of All-Russian Society of the Deaf (VOG) to process of adjustment of friendly relations between National Deaf Associations.

Members of the WFD EEMARS have unanimously selected V. Rukhledev on position of Regional Director. By V. Rukhledev’ recommendations Dmitry Rebrov (staff of Foreign Affairs Department of VOG) has been elected as the Regional Secretary.

At plenary sessions participants discussed problems of signing and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in their countries, and also Deaf Education issues, vocational training and employment of the deaf people, activity of the organisations in a global economic crisis, an access problem to the information.

Employees of the Moscow company "Express Telekom" had been showed means of video telecommunication which in Russia already establish in Regional Branches of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf and the Centers of social protection of the population.

Following the results of a working meeting WFD EEMARS Members have accepted Appeals to Presidents of the countries.

On behalf the WFD - Mr. Jokinen and on behalf the WFD EEMARS - Mr. Rukhledev have signed Appeals.

WFD President and Regional Secretariat Members have visited Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus where cadets study Sign language. Training of cadets of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Sign language is one of directions of realisation of the Government program of Belarus on creation non-barrier environments of ability to live for Persons with Disabilities for 2007-2010.

International guests have visited also the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Belarus where open meeting with the Deputy Minister Mrs. Valentina Koroleva has taken place. In Belarus are 510.000 persons with Disabilities, from them - 26,500 children. Operate various forms of the state support; work on preparation for signing of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities is conducted.

M. Jokinen has given the information on cooperation the WFD with the United Nations, about value of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities for deaf persons.

Later Mr. Saputo has shown to foreign colleagues Deaf Association Factory "Vitok" in Minsk. Factory is one of the largest in Deaf Association system - on it hundreds deaf persons work - it lets out springs for mechanisms and various kinds of mechanics.

In the Republican Palace of Deaf Culture named N. Sharko visitors were waited by a warm meeting with members of Byelorussian Society of the Deaf, for guests have shown new rock opera "Yunona and Avos’".

Participants of the international meeting were convinced that social protection of the Deaf is in Byelorussia at high level, and the Byelorussian Society of the Deaf actively develops partner relations with the government.

Summing up the international meeting, the WFD President has given an appreciation to the done work, having underlined that WFD EEMARS is the active and efficient - in it he sees a special merit of EEMARS Director Valery Rukhledev.

Mr. Jokinen has thanked organisers and participants of a meeting for fruitful work and has expressed conviction that the meeting has defined prospects of the further cooperation.

All-Russian Society of the Deaf