UNFPA Armenia in partnership with "Disability Rights Agenda" NGO launched a two-day conference aimed at improving the advocacy skills of organizations working in the sphere.
"The need for this initiative arose this year during the analysis of the results from a comprehensive needs assessment conducted among approximately 35 organizations. Based on the findings, we have developed this meeting agenda, focusing on three critical areas that require immediate attention: fundraising, effective communication, and network cooperation for advocacy," explained Mushegh Hovsepyan, president of "Disability Rights Agenda" NGO.
Tsovinar Harutyunyan, head of UNFPA Armenia, welcoming the initiative and the joined participants highlighted:
"Since the adoption of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2021, our country has been undergoing significant transformations, with numerous state programs gaining momentum. These changes encompass various aspects, such as the introduction of a new system for assessing an individual's functionality, the provision of personal assistant services, and the expansion of services across different regions. To ensure that people and organizations with disabilities can actively and meaningfully engage in the development and implementation of policies, programs, and regulations, effective advocacy skills and knowledge is important."
Following the two-day meeting, the participants successfully developed a three-year action plan for advocacy. As highlighted by Mushegh Hovsepyan, this plan will serve as a valuable tool for the donor community, enabling them to gain a clear understanding of the sector's priorities and the specific support required.
The initiative was implemented within the framework of the project "Creating enabling environment and ecosystem for implementation of Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and disability mainstreaming in Armenia" implemented with the financial support of United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi Trust Fund (UNPRPD MPTF). It is a two-year joint program and is implemented in Armenia by three UN agencies: UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP.
