The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission is urging members of the public to respect all parking lots allocated for persons with disabilities either in public or private spaces.
It says these accessible spaces specifically marked for persons with disabilities ensure they have safe, convenient and equal access to services such as supermarkets, health care facilities, banking, entertainment and public institutions and it should not be abused by non-disabled persons.
Human Rights Commissioner, Lanieta Tuimabu who is also a representative of the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation says parking lots reserved for persons with disabilities ensures that the wheel-chair users, those using walkers, white cane and other mobility aid users can get off their vehicle and safely access the facility they are visiting to run their errands.
She says the onus is on the non-disabled members of the public to ensure they do not use the parking spaces allocated for persons with disabilities.
Tuimabu says many times, these accessible parking spaces are being occupied by non-disabled persons who are just looking for a convenient parking space.
She says it is a matter of shame when a non-disabled person disregards the disability sign and uses the space allocated for all persons with disabilities.
Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Director Ashwin Raj says reasonable accessibility for persons with disabilities is not an act of charity but a concrete expression of our constitutional obligation as well as under international human rights law.
He says section 42 of the Fijian Constitution states that a person with any disability has the right to reasonable access to all places and reasonable adaptation of buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, working arrangements, rules, practices or procedures, to enable their full participation in society and the effective realisation of their rights.
The Commission is urging the facility managers and security guards managing the parking lots in both public and private spaces to be vigilant in ensuring accessible parking lots are not misused.
They will be working closely with institutions and business houses to ensure compliance otherwise this is s abuse of space which has been specifically designated for persons with disabilities.
Complaints can also be filed with the Commission on mobile no: 9709894 or email info@fhradc.org.fj
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