The first steps to the cherished goal

In the framework of the project "To know in order to help"  17 and 18 September 2018 was held the seminar “Legislation on the rights of children with disabilities. Main aspects of developing  the monitoring system for realization  the rights of children with disabilities in the Republic of Belarus” organized by the CPA "World Without Borders" with the support of the non-governmental organization "ERICS Development Partner" (Sweden). The event attended specialists from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, regional’s Committees of Labor and Social Protection and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The event was the first step in developing an alternative monitoring system for implementation of the rights of children with special needs in house-boarding  institutions. One of the main topics of the seminar was the review of international and national legislation regulating the implementation of the rights of children with disabilities in our country.
The director of human rights education institution “Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” Sergey  Drozdovskiy as a leading speaker, updated the participant’s  knowledge of children's rights outlined in international and national legislation. The speaker offered to consider the topic of children's rights in the context of disability and the special needs of children in house-boarding institutions. Concepts such as discrimination, stigmatization and marginalization were disclosed more widely.
Specialists of the Belarusian Children's Hospice Pavel Burykin and Irina Gamova shared their experience in implementing projects aimed at advocating the rights of children with disabilities. The realization of the right to health care for children with disabilities was a cross-cutting theme of their speeches. The Director of the Institute of Inclusive Education, Vera Hitruk, highlighted the prospects and development of inclusive education in our country.
Throughout the seminar were organized discussions during  which everyone could express their opinion and vision of the problems. With the help of the  moderator, Valery Zhurakovski, coordinator of the Public Association "ACT", were developed priority steps to create a monitoring and evaluation system of the implementation of children's rights in house-boarding institutions.
The seminar was held in atmosphere of openness and constant dialogue. Readiness of the audience for discussion and cooperation was noted by all the speakers and the moderator of the event. 
For discussion were raised many problems  which are requiring  attention, and solutions  can be effectively resolved through interdepartmental cooperation. This interaction for the benefit of children with disabilities  should be the result of holding further seminars within the framework of the project "To know in order to help." And the first steps to the cherished goal have already been made!