A look at disability vs social justice

Dr Christine Peta

Disability Issues

THIS week, we focus on the intersection of disability and social justice.

Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Day of Social Justice on February 20.

What is social justice?

For much of its history, social justice has been a religious concept, which asserts that people in society should work for common good.

Social justice draws its roots from the 1840s Christian theology, which directed the application of justice to social affairs, alongside an assertion that people should do what is right based on an understanding of morality-based religion and theology.

Various definitions of social justice now exist.

However, in simple terms, social justice refers to equal rights and equitable opportunities for all.

Social justice seeks to give everyone the same chances for education, jobs, healthcare, social protection and much more, regardless of disability, gender, class, religion, ethnicity and other identity markers.

Whilst there is no standard definition of social justice that applies across the world, the concept is underpinned by five principles — access, equity, participation, diversity and human rights.

Access

This holds that resources of a society must be accessible to all, including to persons with disabilities. Along with everyone else, persons with disabilities must have access to healthcare, education, employment, justice, social protection, et cetera.

 Equity

The National Disability Policy asserts that all people, including persons with disabilities, should have the same opportunities to succeed. Resources have to be distributed in such a way that the needs of underprivileged or marginalised groups, such as persons with disabilities, are taken into account.

 Participation

This means taking part or getting involved in various facets of life.

The policy directs the active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.

 Diversity

This refers to people with different identity markers in relation to disability, gender, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religion, culture, marital status and age, among other things, who should all be involved in various facets of life.

Human rights

These are rights that people have simply because they exist as human beings; from the most basic, such as the right to life, to rights that enhance our quality of life, such as the right to food, education, health, work, liberty and so on.

Zimbabwe has since moved from the charity model of disability, which regards persons with disabilities as “good-for-nothing” beings who should depend on donations from well-wishers, to the human rights approach, which asserts the right of persons with disabilities to education, healthcare, employment and social protection.

The policy seeks to achieve social justice for persons with disabilities through promoting, protecting and respecting their rights.

By taking a human rights approach, the Government acknowledges the inherent dignity, worth and equality of all human beings and the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all people, including those with disabilities.

The Government is committed to improving and safeguarding the well-being of persons with disabilities and their families in both rural and urban areas, and in all the 10 provinces in the country.

The Department of Disability Affairs, therefore, promotes social dialogue with persons with disabilities and their families and their representative organisations, thus leading joint exploration, creation and strengthening of opportunities across all sectors.

That way, active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their families is ensured in the design, implementation and monitoring of initiatives that relate to decent work, protection of labour rights, as well as promotion of access to information, education, healthcare, social protection, housing and justice.

The Government has formed a National Disability Committee, which includes representatives from all ministries, commissions, development partners and organisations of persons with disabilities.

The committee is chaired by the Department of Disability Affairs and seeks to ensure the mainstreaming of disability and establishment of targeted disability programmes in all sectors.

In addition, the Department of Disability Affairs is spearheading a robust awareness raising programme that seeks to eliminate the discrimination and marginalisation of persons with disabilities.

Resultantly, this is facilitating transformation within all ministries, departments and Government agencies, as well as private sector players, at every level, with the expected result being social justice for persons with disabilities and their families in all facets of life.

We should all join hands in addressing barriers, marginalisation and discrimination, which result in some persons with disabilities not being able to function at optimal levels to fend for themselves and their families, and to contribute to the mainstream national development agenda.

Forward with social justice for all, including for persons with disabilities.

Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She is the national director of Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe. She can be contacted on: [email protected]