Call to make disability issues part of MDGs
Seminar discusses linking issue with post-2015 goals to raise more awareness.
ISLAMABAD:
Participants at a seminar urged for the inclusion of disability-related issues in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) strategy, otherwise their voices will remain unheard.
They were speaking at a seminar “’The World We Want in Future’ Post 2015 MDG strategy -Voices of Persons with Disabilities”, held on Monday at a local hotel to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. It was organised by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Directorate of Special Education.
Speakers said that earlier, disability issues were not included in the MDGs, thus persons with disabilities (PWDs) were ignored by various development projects.
UNESCO Pakistan Director Dr Kozue Kay Nagata said the areas which need to focus in the post-2015 MDG strategy included inclusive education, cultural peace, environmental accessibility, disparity issues between persons with disabilities, the impact of climate change, and inclusive disaster risk-reduction strategies.
She expressed concern that after devolution under the 18th Amendment, there is no a mechanism or national-level commission to prepare a report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Pakistan ratified in 2011. The report is due for submission in 2013.
STEP President Atif Sheikh said that to compile the implementation report, there is a need to set up a national commission on the rights of persons with disabilities which should be run by persons with disabilities. Laws aimed at reducing discrimination against people with disabilities should also be passed, he suggested.
Later, participants were asked to suggest disability-related issues which should be made part of the post-2015 MDG strategies. Suggestions included focus on women with disabilities, replacing the word ‘disabled’ with a new word as this gives a negative impact, existing policies need to be reviewed and updated among others.
Capital Administration and Development Ministry Senior Joint Secretary Abdul Latif Laghari said all the existing outdated policies related to PWDs will be reviewed and will be brought in compliance with the UNCRPD.
He said there is a need to conduct a survey at federal level to calculate the exact number of PWDs in the city, as there is currently no up-to-date data available.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.
Participants at a seminar urged for the inclusion of disability-related issues in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) strategy, otherwise their voices will remain unheard.
They were speaking at a seminar “’The World We Want in Future’ Post 2015 MDG strategy -Voices of Persons with Disabilities”, held on Monday at a local hotel to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. It was organised by Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Directorate of Special Education.
Speakers said that earlier, disability issues were not included in the MDGs, thus persons with disabilities (PWDs) were ignored by various development projects.
UNESCO Pakistan Director Dr Kozue Kay Nagata said the areas which need to focus in the post-2015 MDG strategy included inclusive education, cultural peace, environmental accessibility, disparity issues between persons with disabilities, the impact of climate change, and inclusive disaster risk-reduction strategies.
She expressed concern that after devolution under the 18th Amendment, there is no a mechanism or national-level commission to prepare a report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Pakistan ratified in 2011. The report is due for submission in 2013.
STEP President Atif Sheikh said that to compile the implementation report, there is a need to set up a national commission on the rights of persons with disabilities which should be run by persons with disabilities. Laws aimed at reducing discrimination against people with disabilities should also be passed, he suggested.
Later, participants were asked to suggest disability-related issues which should be made part of the post-2015 MDG strategies. Suggestions included focus on women with disabilities, replacing the word ‘disabled’ with a new word as this gives a negative impact, existing policies need to be reviewed and updated among others.
Capital Administration and Development Ministry Senior Joint Secretary Abdul Latif Laghari said all the existing outdated policies related to PWDs will be reviewed and will be brought in compliance with the UNCRPD.
He said there is a need to conduct a survey at federal level to calculate the exact number of PWDs in the city, as there is currently no up-to-date data available.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.