DUSHANBE, November 18, 2008, Asia-Plus — An informational-educational campaign on disabled children’s problems was launched in Tajikistan on November 17.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Venera Umarova, the chairperson of the charitable medical organization Zdorovye (Health), said that the campaign, carried out in the framework of the Children with Physical Disabilities in the Mirror of Mass Media project, which is implemented under financial support of the European Commission Delegation in Tajikistan, is dedicated to the International Day of Disabled People, which is marked on December 1.
The event, aiming to raise awareness about the needs of disable children, is currently held in the cities of Khujand and Qurghon Teppa. “Meetings are being held with local residents and families with disabled children there,” Umarova said, noting that events in Khujand and Qurghon Teppa would last till November 21.
Form November 27 to December 1, similar events will be held in Dushanbe. On December 1, a master-class for journalists on coverage of the disabled children’s problems will be held in Dushanbe. The master-class will be conducted by Moscow journalists.
We will recall that the Independent School of Journalism “Tajikistan – 21st Century” in April this year hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss issues related to a role of media in coverage of problems facing children with physical disabilities. The meeting brought together representatives from media, public associations and international organizations as well as lecturers with higher educational institutions, human rights activist and parents of children with physical disabilities.
Manuals for media employees were presented on the sidelines of the meeting. The manual titled “Children’s Disability in the Mirror of Mass Media” was worked out by an expert group comprising lecturers with higher educational institutions, journalists and specialists in the children’s disability issues.
The meeting was part of the Children with Physical Disabilities in the Mirror of Mass Media project. The project provides for conducting a series of seminars and master classes for 60 practicing journalists in Dushanbe, Khujand, and Qurghon Teppa, as well as organizing competitions among Tajik journalists on covering problems facing children with physical disabilities, etc.
