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Archive -Seychelles

Implementing the convention on rights of persons with disabilities |30 September 2013

NCDP finalises plan of action

 

Seychelles ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009, and since 2011, the National Council for Disabled Persons (NCDP) has been working on a plan of action aimed at implementing the requirements of the convention during the coming five years.
 
The plan of action has been guided by the national policy on disability which the NCDP has also since earlier this year been concurrently elaborating through the support of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) programme.

In order to finalise inputs into the plan of action and the national policy, the NCDP with the collaboration of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports organised a workshop last week at Le Méridien Barbarons hotel, regrouping all stakeholders involved in the process including ministries responsible for education, employment, health, planning and housing, transport, youth as well as the civil society.

The workshop was launched by Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton in the presence of Health Minister Mitcy Larue, social affairs principal secretary Linda William-Melanie and the chairperson of NCDP Patricia René.

Minister Meriton said that the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities represents an international milestone, acknowledging the shift in attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities.

He added that because of the convention, the world has moved from viewing persons with impairments as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection to recognising them as full and equal members of society with human rights.

The minister stressed that as one of the signatories to the convention, Seychelles’ responsibility has been to see beyond the cultural constructs we have had about our disabled brothers and sisters:

“Disability is not about being impaired or different. It is rather the result of the interaction between persons with impairments and the barriers in their environment that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This is the core belief underpinning the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and is what should be guiding our actions in removing the barriers that still hinder the full development of disabled persons here in Seychelles,” he said.

He reminded that mechanisms already exist locally and a lot has been done with regards to the integration and respect of the rights of the disabled, added to what people with disabilities have themselves contributed to society. He however called for more action and commitment, with a new approach focusing on the need for society to adapt to enable rather than disable people with impairments.

Last week’s workshop was conducted by consultant Giovanna Neves. Giving an overview of the work done so far, she said the two documents will among other issues, address society’s obligations to the disabled such as their human rights and accessibility to justice, education, health, employment, politics etc.

The NCDP will also come up with a database of persons with disabilities who currently represent three percent of the Seychelles population.

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