Breaking barriers: ‘Integrate the disabled into everyday life’

Speakers call for efforts to allow everyone access free of discrimination.


Peer Muhammad December 04, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Communities in Pakistan must support the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of their political, social, economic and cultural lives.


This was the consensus of the panelists at a seminar organised by the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) in collaboration with Unesco and Unicef. The coincided with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday.

The UN observed the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981. Since then there has been significant progress in raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. From the World Program of Action (1982) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006 (CRPD), a lot of work has also been done on strengthening the international normative framework to realise those rights. Already, 153 countries have signed the CRPD, while 107 have ratified the convention. Pakistan ratified the CRPD on July 5, 2011.

Addressing the seminar, UNESCO Director Dr Kozue Kay Nagata said that the most fundamental principle of the convention is to change society itself, making it more inclusive, barrier-free and right-based.

She said that prior to the introduction of the CRPD, Unesco had already supported and institutionalised the fundamental principles of inclusiveness. She said that today, Unesco and Unicef are jointly promoting inclusiveness and diversity by drawing special attention to the issue of the most marginalised group, especially women and children with disabilities, who are vulnerable to multiple forms of gender and poverty-based discrimination.

Dr Nagata said that to achieve our common goal, we must involve parents and communities where people with disabilities live, through the community-based rehabilitation approach, which is jointly supported by the World Heath Organisation, Unesco and International Labour Organisation. In addition, Unesco has developed an educational kit, “Embracing Diversity: Toolkit for Creating Inclusive Learning Friendly Environment” while the organisation supports friendly schools to achieve the goal of inclusiveness in education involving marginalised students, including children with disabilities.

Unicef Deputy Country Representative Karen Allen said that eight million disabled children in Pakistan are out of schools. “There is crucial need for an inclusive and child-friendly education system which allows access to all children without any barrier,” she said.

CADD Joint Secretary Rafiq Tahir said that government is planning to provide facilities to the disabled persons in education and it has made progress as well.

He added that inclusive education has already been launched, but there are many challenges in the way and more still needs to be done.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2011. 

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