Call to expedite ‘Disability Rights Bill’ enactment | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Call to expedite ‘Disability Rights Bill’ enactment

13 September, 2020

Persons with disabilities and organisations supporting them call upon the Government to expedite the enactment of legislation to uplift and recognise differently-abled people to enhance their contribution to the economy. Organisations looking into the welfare and rights of persons with disabilities also urge the authorities to set up a task force under the supervision of the President to ensure that they are treated with dignity and are not denied rights and privileges enjoyed by others.

“As persons with disabilities we call on the new Government to pass the Disability Rights Bill in Parliament including the recommendations made by people with disabilities and to ratify the optional protocol of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to uplift and recognise people with disabilities to boost their contribution to the economy,” said Manager, Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Manique Gunaratne.

The Disability Rights Bill was formulated with public participation in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

People with disabilities do not enjoy equal rights and privileges as other citizens in society.

They are deprived of basic entitlements enjoyed by other citizens due to physical and psychological barriers in society. They also face stigma and discrimination.

The main causes for disability in Sri Lanka are poor hygiene, lack of medical care, the prevalence of a three decade battle against terrorism, the aftereffects of the 2004 tsunami and an increase in accidents. 

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