Our people living with disabilities face many challenges to live in dignity and equality, therefore it is vital that we as a nation explore all avenues to encourage inclusion of persons living with disabilities by recognising and protecting their rights.
This was stated by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran while officiating at the first forum organized for persons living with disabilities in Taveuni.
She says this includes the right to quality education, health care, participation in sports, equal opportunities to decent work, contribute to their community and country and to live their life free from all forms of discrimination.
Kiran acknowledged and commended the Taveuni Disabled Persons Organisation for working tirelessly to be the voice of more than 200 persons living with disabilities.
She says this first-ever Taveuni Disabled Persons Forum is testimony to the organisation’s commitment to being the voice for people living with disabilities in Taveuni.
She says it demonstrates also the willingness to advocate for the equal participation and inclusion of persons living with disabilities at all levels of decision-making.
She adds section 42 of the 2013 Fijian Constitution denotes the rights of persons living with disabilities making visible the realisation of moving towards an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons with disabilities in Fiji.
Kiran says Fiji has also joined other nations around the globe, in ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
She says however, the sad reality is, that despite all the efforts, people living with disability are often stigmatised and neglected by their own communities and families.
The Assistant Minister has encouraged everyone to continue to advocate for issues such as the improvement of access to basic services and economic empowerment for our persons living with disabilities.
She says we should remain focused on the objective of improving services and creating an enabling environment that will ensure our persons living with disabilities live a fulfilling life of dignity.
