Rights issues: Political will needed to mainstream differently-abled

Experts say legislations can, in the long run, correct societal norms

ISLAMABAD: A strong political will has always been needed to mainstream the people living with disabilities (PWDs). It can help pass a comprehensive law dealing with the welfare of the PWDs, which in the long run will even correct the societal norms on the disability issue.

These thoughts were discussed by a working group on “Mainstreaming of Disability in the Political, Democratic and Legislative Landscape of Pakistan,” released in the shape of a brief by Potohar Mental Health Association (PMHA) with the generous support of She Can Lead Project, Oxfam, Pakistan.

PMHA is a rights-based organisation working for the welfare of PWDs.

Members of the group regretted that many myths prevail in the society about PWDs. Exclusion of PWDs starts from homes and is exacerbated in schools, a member noted, adding that derogatory epithets further exclude the very presence of this marginalised segment of society.

Such exclusionary notions act as obstacle in the full participation of the persons living with disabilities, who otherwise, the brief noted, comprise of around thirty three million.

Society therefore needs to overcome this difference by shunning the “us versus them” difference, it was noted. One participant called for looking at persons living with disabilities as “human being” rather than an “object”.

Societal approaches meanwhile stay afloat given there is no proper law that incorporates the persons living  disabilities in the mainstream, and that puts in place some accountability mechanism for a discriminatory behaviour. As of now, the persons living with disabilities are subjected to the Disabled Persons (Employment & Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981, which deals with their employment and rehabilitation services only.

A critical element hitherto missing has been political will, members of the deliberations noted.

PMHA, however, hoped that the new parliment will take forward the task of mainstreaming the persons living with disabilities as promised by the top three parties.

Members also called for inclusive participation of the persons living with disabilities, especially women living with disabilities, in democratic processes. It will ensure they can claim their rights on their own.

Members of the group included Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Council Members Nasreen Azhar and Marvi Sirmed; Psychologist Dr Bashir Hussain Shah; Oxfam Gender and Justice Programme Manager Hadia Nusrat; IDRA Executive Director Amjad Nazeer; Chef International CEO Sohail Khan; CPDI Senior programme Officer Fatimah Shah; Al-Maktoom Special Education Centre teacher Amjad Sohail; Development Expert Salim Malik; United Blind Welfare Trust Chairman Shahid Rasheed; and PMHA Chief Executive Zulqurnain Asghar among others.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2018.