Discussion dedicated to support to decision-making of persons with psychiatric and mental disabilities in Armenia

On 26 July, at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, a two-day discussion devoted to the problems related to introduction of a system to support the decision-making of persons with psychiatric and mental disabilities in the Republic of Armenia was organised within the framework of TAIEX instrument of the European Union. The purpose of the workshop is to transmit expert-level information and knowledge regarding the issue to the specialists of state bodies, study the potential models for introducing and implementing support mechanisms for decision-making in the Republic of Armenia in line with international standards, for the benefit of psychiatric, cognitive or mental disabilities.

During the discussion, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Vigen Kocharyan gave an opening speech.

EU expert on disability issues in Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare Karin Fleicht, who has arrived in Armenia within the framework of the EU expert mission, presented to the participants international documents, including the EU legal regulations and strategies, Action Plans and other legal acts regarding the process of supporting decision-making processes, as well as touched upon issues related to improvement of exercise of self-determination of persons with disabilities in practice.

The EU expert also touched upon the legal regulations and practical measures existing in the EU and mainly in countries like Sweden and Finland and aimed at ensuring participation of persons with such disability in social processes as an alternative to the guardianship mechanism.

Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia, the Office of the Human Rights Defender and the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia participated in the two-day discussion. During the meeting, legislative regulations of the Republic of Armenia, peculiarities and possible changes existing in the given sector will be introduced by the Ministry of Justice and other interested bodies of the Republic of Armenia, which will be later followed by a working discussion on the possible introduction of support mechanisms for decision-making in the legal system of Armenia. Issues related to both legislative amendments and practical application of this mechanism and further benchmarks thereof will become a matter for consideration.

The working discussion will continue tomorrow, 27 July.