By CEPO team
Bor, Jonglei State,
June 22, 2022 — Speaking during a workshop on “Disability Inclusion, Food Security and Livelihood,” held in Jonglei state, citizens urged the government to review laws and policies aimed at promoting, protecting and ensuring full and equal enjoyment of rights for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the country.
The two-day event, organized by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) with support from ZOA Dorcas, attracted 30 people.
David Machar, a state assembly lawmaker, emphasized the importance of promoting rights of persons with disabilities in food security and livelihoods.
He encouraged participants to freely share their experiences on disability inclusion with one another, including challenges facing PWDs.
Mark Jambu, a project officer with CEPO, said promoting rights of persons with disabilities is the collective responsibility of stakeholders at various levels.
“The objective of the workshop is to ensure enhanced accountability and capacity of duty bearers to address the needs and uphold rights of PWDs, thus promoting and nurturing a culture of inclusive governance,” he said.
Jambu advocated for increased acceptance and recognition of abilities of PWDs to enable them to socially and economically contribute to society.
For his part, CEPO’s field officer, Akech Kuol urged the state government to implement all the legal frameworks meant to promote the rights of PWDs.
Richard Taban, a representative of ZOA Dorcas, urged the participants to share experiences and acquire skills needed to promote and protect PWDs.
He pleaded for continued support from ZOA Dorcas and other organizations to PWDs community in South Sudan.
Conflict, stereotypes, lack of assistive transport devices, stigmatization, insecurity and lack of education, were cited as challenges facing PWDs.
A similar workshop and radio talk shows were organized with financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the importance of promoting rights of persons with disabilities in food security and livelihoods.
South Sudan is yet to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), an international human rights treaty of the United Nations, to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Although the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan make references to persons with disabilities and also mentions “the National Disability and Inclusion Policy, and Inclusive Education Policy”, there is no specific legislation in South Sudan for protection of rights of persons with disabilities.
