The Parliament, in the III reading, adopted the Draft Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 80 votes in favor and 8 against. The amendments establish obligations regarding the accessibility of websites and applications for persons with disabilities.

 

Specifically, the amendments define the institutions—administrative bodies and certain private legal entities—that are required to ensure the accessibility of their websites and mobile applications.

 

This obligation applies to the websites and applications of private legal entities that provide: early and preschool education, general, higher, or vocational education services; healthcare services; social protection programs for persons with disabilities funded by the state budget, the republican budget of an autonomous republic, or a municipal budget; insurance services; banking or microfinance activities; utility or internet-based services delivered to end users (including electricity suppliers, natural gas suppliers, water supply license holders, and electronic communications companies); and passenger transportation services by road, air, sea, or rail.

 

The amendment also applies to the websites and applications of private legal entities through which they conduct: retail food sales; postal/courier services; and the aggregation and dissemination of offers (invitations to treat) submitted by third parties for concluding contracts with an indefinite group of persons.

 

The obligation defined by the amendment does not apply to the websites and applications of administrative bodies and private legal entities that are published before September 1, 2027, provided that no informational updates are made after that date.

 

Technical editing of already published material shall not be considered an informational update.

 

The adopted amendment does not impose an obligation on administrative bodies or private legal entities to have websites or applications.

 

At the same time, failure by administrative bodies or private legal entities to ensure accessibility of websites and applications will be considered discrimination.

 

The bill was initiated by MPs: Rati Ionatamishvili, Aluda Gudushvili, Zurab Kadagidze, Sumbat Kyureghian, Irakli Cheishvili, Salome Jinjolava, Savalan Mirzoev, and Tornike Phaghava.