The International Conference on Developing Social and Rehabilitation Services and Supporting People with Disabilities began in Tashkent on 10 September.
CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev extended greetings to the participants and organisers of the conference.
The message noted that one of the priorities of the social policy in the CIS countries was to create conditions for the development of human potential and for a healthy and decent life for the population, including through the implementation of a package of measures aimed at providing comfortable living conditions, preventing disabilities and ensuring the rehabilitation and social integration of people with disabilities.
“The situation of persons with disabilities remains a constant focus of attention for the CIS member states. Today, the CIS member states have developed national social protection mechanisms and implemented measures aimed at the rehabilitation, employment and full and equal participation of people with disabilities in society,” the greeting reads.
According to Sergey Lebedev, the CIS Advisory Council on Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Population is doing important work in this area. The Council is actively addressing relevant cooperation issues in the social sphere.
With the support of the Council, a CIS basic organisation for the comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with disabilities was established in December 2025. A number of multilateral agreements, concepts and programmes covering economic and legal measures aimed at social support for people with disabilities are in force within the Commonwealth.
The CIS Secretary-General noted the work carried out by the Advisory Council concerning the accession of the CIS member states to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This helped to provide additional guarantees for ensuring, protecting and promoting the social and economic rights of persons with disabilities.
“It is notable that the Conference is being held in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the year declared by the CIS as the Year of Health Protection. This event will certainly contribute to advancing research in the field of comprehensive rehabilitation and support for persons with disabilities and will help to develop new ideas for further productive work in the field”, Sergey Lebedev said.