Handicap International an international humanitarian organization that focuses on the protection and welfare of the disabled in the country has ended a two day national consultative conference with stakeholders on the ratified UN Convention on persons with disability at the Atlantic Hall National Stadium in Freetown.
The national conference was organized by Handicap International (Social Inclusion and Rights Project) with support from Irish Aid and other partners working towards disability issues in Sierra Leone.
The two day consultative forum attracted over forty representatives of disabled people’s organizations (DPO’S), Members of parliament, civil society groups and the media to discuss the way forward for the implementation of disability issues.
The purpose of the UN Convention on the rights of people with disability is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
The convention also recognizes that all persons are equal before the law and requires state parties to prohibit all discriminations on the basis of disability and guarantees to persons with disability equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds.
Article 6 indicates (women with disabilities,) Article 7 on (children with disabilities) while Article 8 obligates state parties to take a variety of measures to raise awareness throughout society regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Article 9 deals with (accessibility) which obligates state parties to take appropriate measures to ensure access to persons with disabilities on equal basis with others to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications. Article 31-40 requires state parties to collect appropriate information, including statistical and research data to enable the disabled to create and implement policies that give effect to the convention.
The two day consultative conference was anchored by Hon. Eric Jumu of the SLPP who implored on the participants to make good use of knowledge and encouraged disables to champion the implementation of issues affecting them.
He said “Sierra Leone is not disabling friendly,” and expressed the need for the establishment of a disable commission to address the welfare of disables across the country. He noted that, after the ratification of the disable convention there is need to domesticate the UN Convention by ensuring the fullest implementation and compliance of the convention by all stakeholders seeking to protect disables.
President of the Sierra Leone Union of Disables (SLUDI) Franklin Bangura expressed thanks and appreciation to Handicap International for organizing the consultative conference on the ratified UN Convention that promotes the rights of persons with disability.
Franklin Bangura said national disable organizations are determined to intensify advocacy and lobbying strategies so that the UN Convention will be implemented and ensure speedy enactment of the disability legislation.Mrs. M. Cotay and Ezekiel presented several topics ranging from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities followed by plenary discussions and group work on the way forward in addressing disability issues in the country.
By Saidu Bah
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