RSS celebrates international day for persons with disabilities JUBA, 5 December 2011 (NASS) – The Republic of South Sudan on Saturday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the Juba National Stadium.
Addressing the gathering, the Advisor to the Minister for Gender, Child and Social Welfare Hon. Peter Sokole who represented the Deputy Minister Hon. Dr. Priscilla Nyanyang Joseph emphasized that the Republic of South Sudan is aware of the challenges persons with disabilities face and is committed to supporting them to enjoy the benefits of their citizenship through favourable policies and strategies aligned to international goals such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He also emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that the human rights of the persons with disabilities are respected in all spheres of life. He reported that persons with disabilities constitute ten percent of the world’s population. He also reported that the majority (eighty percent) of these persons live in the developing countries and that a quarter of the world’s population is affected in one or another by disabilities. Hon. Sokole said that the Republic of South Sudan will sign the relevant protocols to mainstream the needs of persons with disabilities in government institutions and services. These protocols relate to personal mobility of persons with disabilities, specialized education and employment. He explained that the government set up the Physical Rehabilitation and Reference Centre in 2005 to manufacture and provide artificial limbs. The centre, he said, has the capacity to serve 60 inpatients and 40 outpatients from all over South Sudan most of whom are amputees affected by gun shots and land mines. This rehabilitation, he said, enables the patients to pick up their lives and live productively. He also reported that the government, through the Ministry of Education is supporting the education of persons with disabilities. He said that twenty persons with disabilities have graduated with various degrees from universities. He also said the government is building a special school for the blind and deaf students in Rajaf. The advisor also reiterated that the government gives relevant employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. Nonetheless, he called on the government institutions to reserve a certain percentage of the employment opportunities to the persons with disabilities. He also said that the political field is even for all people including persons with disabilities in line with the requirements of the Transitional Convention which in its Article 30 (1) and (2) addresses political participation. “The political field is level for all including persons with disabilities; they have a right to vote and be voted for”, he emphasized. Reported by Simon Matiop Akol, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
