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The legislative regulation proposed by the NA deputy Zaruhi Batoyan is conditioned by the need to make regular road transport in our country inclusive and accessible, to create legal bases for exercising the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the fulfillment of obligations of the Republic of Armenia under international agreements.

The current law stipulates that the vehicles submitted to the tender should include buses adapted for the seating and lowering of persons with disabilities, the minimum number of which is determined by the Government. According to the decision of the executive body, it was stipulated that the number of available vehicles defined for the organizations participating in the tenders is at least ten percent of the total number. According to Zaruhi Batoyan, this condition does not follow the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the requirements of the Law on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It is proposed to establish a mandatory accessibility requirement for persons with disabilities for all vehicles submitted to the tender for intra-community transportations, to regulate the process of transportation of assistive products for passengers with disabilities during the organization of routes, to clarify the responsibilities of drivers during the organization of transportation of passengers with disabilities. There will be a requirement for compliance with the norms of accessibility for the organization of parking activities, as well as a mandatory accessibility requirement in case of replenishment or replacement of existing intra-community routes before the entry into force of this law with new means of transport.

Presenting the endorsement of the NA Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs, Lilit Minasyan expressed an opinion that the amendments are another step towards the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities and the improvement of their quality of life.

The RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Kristine Ghalechyan also highlighted the adoption of the initiative in the issue of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Amendments and addenda to the Law on Road Transport were debated at the NA sitting convened on June 14.