Students interpret disabled rights convention through drawings |14 July 2012

These drawings, which have been done by pupils and students both with and without disabilities, are also expected to appear in a child friendly version of the convention to be produced soon.

The young artists received their certificates during the launch of the two-day exhibition and several other stakeholders got copies of the Creole version of this convention.

Present at the ceremony were the principal secretaries for education and social affairs, Merida Delcy and Linda William-Melanie respectively, as well as the chairperson of the National Council for the Disabled, Patricia Rene.

Mrs Rene said the council has worked in partnership with several partners including the European Union to translate the convention in Creole.

She explained that after this translation project, they decided to organise the drawing activity -- a day before the African Day of a Child which was on June 16 -- under the theme: “The Rights of Child with Disabilities: The duty to protect, respect, promote and fulfill.”

“Altogether 42 students took part including those from the School for the Exceptional Child, where they interpreted several articles of this convention in their own way.”

Once the child friendly version of this convention is out it will definitely help in educating children and other students on the rights of the disabled, Mrs Rene said.

A member of the Council, Naddy Zialor – who also has a disability -- said many people in the society still believe that the disabled should stay at home.

He said most of the time these people cannot make their own decisions because the society thinks it has the right to make these decisions for them.

“But the reality is that the disabled need to form part of the decision-making process when activities are being organised for them,” he said.

Mr Zialor saluted the council for its plans to develop a child friendly version of the convention.

“This will educate the young people and help them change their mindset.”
“If we put the convention into practice I am sure that every person with disability will feel that they belong.”

Mr Zialor said the disabled will feel understood and will surely have the right environment to push them to reach their potential.