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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
 Posted - 14 May 2011 : 19:33:41
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A CALL FOR PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
By Musa Barrow on 04-05-11
The Secretariat of The African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) has called on The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to urge AU member states to ratify the UN Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol domesticate them and ensure their implementation in order to uphold key human rights principles. The following is the full text of the paper presented to the Commission.
Noting the inherent dignity, worth and the equal and inalienable rights of persons with disabilities;
Acknowledging the work of the African Commission in the last 30 years and in particular noting its mandate to address issues on human rights of individuals and groups in Africa;
Appreciating the steps which the African Union, its agencies like the African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights and the African member states have taken to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities on the continent;
Noting the recognition of the rights of peoples with disabilities in the African Charter on Human And Peoples Rights, the Protocol To The African Charter On Human And Peoples’ Rights On The Rights Of Women In Africa, and the African Convention On The Rights And Welfare Of The Child;
Recognizing that the African Union during the 36th Assembly Of Heads Of State And Governments, held in Lome, Togo declared 1999-2009 as the African Decade for persons with disabilities and the meeting of the African Union ministers for social development in Khartoum, Sudan extended the African Decade to the period 2010-2019;
Recalling that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities and its Optional Protocol in December 2006 and that to date 26 African states have ratified the Convention and 15 have ratified the Optional Protocol;
Recalling that the African Commission at its 45th ordinary session held in may 2009 in Banjul The Gambia via resolution 143 decided to transform the focal point on the rights of older persons in Africa into a working group on the rights of older persons and persons with disabilities;
Acknowledging the efforts by the African Commission to establish a protocol on the rights of persons with disabilities;
Concerned about lack of consultations and inclusion of persons with disabilities in developing the mechanisms to promote and protect their human rights;
Concerned that persons with disabilities in Africa experience prejudice, social exclusion and human rights violations in society;
Calling upon African states to recognize, promote and protect all fundamental human rights of persons with disabilities by putting in place policy and legislative safeguards;
Condemning the gross violation and abuse of human rights especially the exclusion from proper service provision in the areas of health, education, employment and other economic activities, gender based violence, and ritual killings of persons with albinism, sexual violence on women and the situation of people with disabilities in situations of conflict;
Hereby make the following proposals:
1. The African Commission should urge all AU member states to ratify the UN Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, domesticate and ensure their implementation in order to uphold the key human rights principles of dignity, autonomy, participation, inclusion and accessibility, non-discrimination and equity, as well as respect for difference in as far as persons with disabilities are concerned.
2. The African commission should promote and address particular concerns facing persons with disabilities especially the rights of women with disabilities, children with disabilities, persons with severe disabilities, persons with albinism, persons with learning disabilities, youth and older persons with disabilities in particular.
a) The Commission should undertake a fact finding mission to Tanzania and neighbouring states to investigate and make recommendations on the situation of persons with albinism.
b) The Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights in Africa, while carrying out her promotional work to undertake investigation on sexual violence against women with disabilities.
c) The Special Rapporteur on internally displaced persons and refugees to undertake a mission to all the countries in conflict to investigate the situation of people with disabilities within the refugee communities, internally displaced persons and people in conflict situations.
3.The African Commission and Working Groups on older persons and persons with disabilities should develop a clear work plan in a consultative manner with persons with disabilities so as to strengthen protective mechanisms for persons with disabilities.
4.Taking note of the deficiencies in and lack of inclusion of persons with disabilities in the drafting of an African disability treaty the African Commission and the Working Group are urged to abandon the development of this treaty and until such time as the concept note analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of such a treaty has been completed.
5.The African Commission and all other organs of the African Union should establish a disabilities friendly working environment that is accessible to people with disabilities in terms of sign language, accessible formats and infrastructure.
6.The African State should promote equal provision of services especially in the areas of health, education, employment, skills training and development, and access to justice for all persons with disabilities who suffer and are victims of exclusion and human rights violations.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2011 : 11:05:38
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| Ah sorry, not a political topic which will encourage voters or of interest to anyone else,what is this bantaba about discussion of things Gambian or a platform for political hot air and unworkable theories for those who haven't got the remotest chance of being elected. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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