Zim highlights success in disability policies

19 Jun, 2022 - 00:06 0 Views
Zim highlights success in disability policies

The Sunday Mail

TODAY, I am focusing on the just ended 15th Conference of States Parties (COSP15) to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The event took place at the UN headquarters in New York from June 14-16 and Zimbabwe was represented.

The conference ran under the theme “Building disability inclusive and participatory societies in the Covid-19 context and beyond”.

Three sub-themes were interrogated.

These included the innovation and technology advancing disability rights; economic empowerment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities and participation of persons with disabilities in climate action, disaster risk reduction and resilience against natural disasters.

The Conference accorded State parties the opportunity to explore different ways of recovering from Covid-19, in an inclusive manner which does not leave persons with disabilities behind.

It also looked at ways of sustaining inclusive societies after the pandemic.

Zimbabwe illuminated the fact that the pandemic disproportionately impacted persons with disabilities and called for worldwide efforts that demonstrate commitment towards promoting, fulfilling, protecting and respecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

For instance, Covid-19 protocols that include social distancing may have a negative impact on social networks that persons with disabilities depend on for support with various activities.

Zimbabwe also reported that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government took bold measures to promote the continued participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in all facets of life.

Key among our achievements in the disability terrain was the launch of the National Disability Policy (NDP) by His Excellency President Mnangagwa on June 9, 2021.

The Policy addresses subjects that include disaster risk management which encompasses pandemics such as the Covid-19.

In line with the sub-theme of Innovation and Technology Advancing Disability Rights; the Government also highlighted its recognition of the fact that innovation and technology can reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of disability and increase the ability to be self-reliable.

As such and among other things, the Government has established innovation hubs, at the country’s leading universities.

These, among other things, seek to not only design, but to also produce assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.

For example, the Innovation Hub at the University of Zimbabwe, has thus far invented a unique white cane for blind persons and a tricycle for persons with physical disabilities.

On Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship of Persons with Disabilities, Zimbabwe reported that the National Disability Policy encompasses section 3.2, which is dedicated to economic empowerment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities and their families.

A number of initiatives are being taken in the country to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully integrated in the workforce of all organisations, across all sectors.

The NDP directs both private and public organisations to ensure that at least 15 percent of their workforce comprises persons with disabilities.

But that is not to say persons with disabilities should be employed as “window dressers”!

It was also indicated that Zimbabwe is enforcing the application of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in both the public and private sectors.

This reaffirms that persons with disabilities must enjoy all human rights, including the right to work.

The partnership of the Department of Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the National Building Society (NBS) is also in the process of framing facilities that seek to further strengthen the empowerment of persons with disabilities through different economic projects.

With regards to participation in climate action, disaster risk reduction and resilience against natural disasters, the State is cognisant of the fact that persons with disabilities are among those most impacted and may have limited access to emergency support.

Thus they are striving to ensure systematic resource allocation to build capacities, institutions and mechanisms for mainstreaming disability issues in climate action and disaster risk reduction.

They are also aiming to ensure the active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in these initiatives.

The Zimbabwe statement at the COSP-15 of the UNCRPD ended with the acknowledgement that whilst we may still have a long way to go towards achieving totally inclusive societies, there is a need for us all to ensure the active and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all facets of life.

This should be done bearing in mind that persons with disabilities are the masters of their own experiences.

 

Dr Christine Peta is a Disability, Policy, International Development and Research expert who is the National Director of Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe. She can be contacted on: [email protected]

 

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