Speakers at a consultation on Tuesday stressed the need for a ministry for the disabled and amendments in the Disabled People (Employment & Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981 to strengthen the implementation mechanism.
The consultation titled Legal Framework for Persons with Disabilities: Gaps and Reforms was organised by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with the US consulate.
Lawyers, representatives of the disabled people’s organisations, journalists, human rights activists and the political officer at the US Consulate in Lahore attended the consultation.
The consultation aimed at sensitising the participants about the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs) and highlighting gaps in the laws by drawing attention towards disability mainstreaming issues.
AWAM Executive Secretary Naseem Anthony said that Pakistan had ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2011, but the authorities had yet to form an action committee or a legislative reform committee. He said Pakistan needed to submit its report in this regard to the UN by mid 2013.
He said, “The Ministry of Human Rights should have been responsible for reporting under the CRPD like other UN conventions. It is a pity that the Ministry of Special Education and Social Welfare has been made responsible for the report on the implementation of CRPD in Pakistan.” He demanded that an implementation committee be formed to migitate the problems faced by the people with disabilities.
Advocate Omer Pervez said that the government had introduced a National Plan of Action in 2006 to implement the national policy for persons with disabilities. He said it had 17 clauses, but none of these had been implemented so far. Holding the government responsible for lack of a reliable implementation mechanism and a monitoring body, Advocate Pervez demanded that the government form a complaint cell and monitor the performance of various departments regarding implementation of relevant laws.
AWAM Coordinator Shazia George said that the Disability Ordinance 1981 had flaws and grey areas. She said successive governments since had failed to remove them.
“Coordination among government departments is imperative for integrating disability registration process into a one-window operation. We also need a disability registration certification that is acceptable across the country,” she said.
Mohammad Yasir Rana from the Bekas Foundation for the disabled demanded for occupational training opportunities for people with disabilities proportionate to their share in population. He said economic empowerment could help them deal their problems. He also suggested that the government enhance the job quotas for the disabled to match their population.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.
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