A number of representatives of different Kazakh non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the rights of persons with disabilities recently announced their willingness to attain places in legislative bodies of the country.
Kairat Imanaliyev (L), Lyazzat Kaltayeva (C) and Ali Amanbayev (R) at the press conference
The corresponding statement was made in the Press Club of Kazakhstan by Chairman of the Union of Organisations of Disabled People of Kazakhstan Ali Amanbayev, Chairman of the Shyrak Association of Women with Disabilities Lyazzat Kaltayeva and Chairman of the Namys Public Associations of Disabled Persons with Higher Education Kairat Imanaliyev.
The speakers emphasised that according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, handicapped citizens should participate in developing programmes and policies that are directly related to their rights and needs. It was noted that the convention, which was signed by Kazakhstan in 2015, has called to provide membership for disabled people in executive and legislative bodies all over the country.
It was also mentioned that the Union of Organisations of Disabled People of Kazakhstan supports the earlier initiative of deputies of the lower house of Parliament to dissolve itself and hold elections for Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) and maslikhats (local representative bodies).
“This is the right time to implement changes and let disabled Kazakh citizens directly participate in legislation’s developments. Many of them have higher education diplomas; some of them participated in various studies and know how to provide special social services or to develop a draft law. Their active participation in legislative activities at the regional and national levels will create appropriate conditions for the quality improvement of life of people with disabilities living in Kazakhstan. Our organisation calls all political parties to include persons with disabilities to their electoral lists for the upcoming Mazhilis and maslikhat elections,” said Amanbayev.
