DUSHANBE, December 4, 2015, Asia-Plus — For the second year in Tajikistan the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which promotes an understanding of disability issues and mobilizes support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, will be celebrated together with the traditional Winter Handicraft Fair, held this year on December 5 and 6 at the Ismaili Centre Dushanbe.
According to the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Tajikistan, the joint event will increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life, promoting the ideal of an inclusive society as a way to reach truly sustainable development.
The initiative, born under the auspices of the European Union and UNICEF, is supported by a solidarity alliance made more than twenty local and international organizations, which came together under the motto “inclusion matters: access and employment of people of all abilities”.
The event reportedly gives the opportunity of linking two important axes of the EU policies in Central Asia: economic development through support to small enterprises – namely in the handicraft sector- on the one hand; reinforcement of non state actors for achieving a more inclusive and stronger civil society, on the other hand.
The two-day handicraft fair, organized by the Union of Craftsmen of Tajikistan (UCT) in partnership with Cesvi, is expected to gather more than 70 artisans presenting the state-of the art of Tajik regional crafts. The program of the fair includes free master-classes and different workshops specifically conceived for children.
In parallel with the activities of artisans, inclusive events for both people with and without disabilities such as, shows, music performances, food fair, exhibitions and more will take place.
