In marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, the European Union (EU) Delegation in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, the "Regional Development" Public Union under the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ASAN Radio released a short documentary called "We are different but equal".

With this 12-minute film, the project partners aimed to stress that persons living with disabilities must be regarded as equal members of an inclusive society, where all members enjoy the same level of freedoms, rights and opportunities and have access to education, employment and healthcare along with others. In line with this year's global theme for the International Day of People with Disabilities "Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality", the video emphasises the importance of inclusiveness and equality as well as the trust that disability is not a barrier to enjoy the life.

The documentary released today was also the key highlight of three grant projects currently implemented in Azerbaijan with financial support from the European Union. Operated by UNDP, the project on "Promoting inclusive education through traditional arts" project is implemented in partnership with the Administration of the historic Old City (Icheri Sheher). As part of this new collaboration, UNDP is working on the creation of the Inclusive Education and Training Centre under the Centre for Traditional Arts (ICTA). Once opened, the new facility will be made available and accessible to people with disabilities and will work directly with this group to help them develop competitive competencies, which respond to current labour market needs. At this center the youth with and without disabilities will participate in inclusive vocational arts and crafts programs together.

By joint efforts, the EU, UNDP and the Government of Azerbaijan aim to also demonstrate to the broader society the benefits of the inclusion process, pretty much similar to the personal stories of people featured in the documentary that came out in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Two other projects that contributed to the documentary launched today are implemented by UNICEF and a national NGO, respectively. "Expanding inclusive quality education for children with disabilities in Azerbaijan" is the project run by UNICEF. Another project aimed at "Ensuring Teachers' Readiness for Inclusive Education" is implemented by the "Regional Development" Public Union.

Media contact:

1. Arzu Jafarli, Communications and External Relations Analyst for UNDP in Azerbaijan – arzu.jafarli@undp.org
2. Gulnara Bayramova, Press and Information Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan – gulnara.bayramova@eeas.europa.eu

We are different but equal