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Dear Friends and
Colleagues,
Let me take this
opportunity to wish you all the best in your efforts
for your celebration of International Day of the
Disabled Persons (IDDP). Despite the effort of
organizations advocating for the rights of persons
with disabilities, a lack of coordination between
governments and civil society still exists.
Moreover, there is continued need for more public
awareness, public educational programmes, and
policies directed towards inclusion, and the
protection of the rights of persons with
disabilities. Information about disability rights is
fragmented and often people are unaware of the
possibilities available to them. Some ways in which
we can strengthen our action for development are by
promoting the necessary adjustment to the legal
framework at all levels of government in order to
improve the well being of persons with disability.
The long awaited United
Nation International Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities was informally adopted on
the 25th August, 2006. This will
give us the global framework that is so critical for
independence which is the basis for our action
toward our development.
 The goal is to inform
members that we now have our own convention, our
human rights are publicly and politically
acknowledged. Let us work for their application, let
us work for the convention to be signed and
ratified. With this convention we will change the
living condition of over 650 million persons with
disabilities to worldwide. But in order to do this
disabled persons must be informed and empowered in
all national assemblies. As we celebrate the
International Day of Disabled Persons let us focus
on our priorities for action and development which
must include:
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The development of
human resources through the development of
skills, ability and potential of person's with
disabilities and the initiation of employment
generating opportunities for persons with
disabilities.
-
States encouraged
strengthening of organizations of persons with
disabilities.
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Ensuring states
participation in international cooperation
concerning the development of policies for
equalization of opportunities for persons with
disabilities.
-
States ensure that the
United nation and the specialized agencies as
well as all intergovernmental bodies at global
and regional levels include on there agenda the
global, regional and national organization of
persons with disabilities.
In closing, let me remind
you: Information is knowledge, knowledge is power,
power is key! Don’t Hide it, share it. I further
wish you every success in your activities for the
International Day of the disabled and beyond.
Mary
Mitchell-Coombs
Information Officer DPI
Regional Chair NACR
Information Officer,
Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) Chairperson
DPI North America and the
Caribbean Region (DPI NACR)
Home: 876-969-0731
Mobile: 876-775-4336
Work: 876-927-2537 |