tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has made great strides in recognising and prioritising the needs and rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs), which has seen them occupying influential positions in various areas.
Signs of Hope Trust director Ms Samantha Sibanda recently made these remarks, while delivering her message to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
This year’s commemorations were running under the theme “United in Action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, by and with persons with disabilities”.
“On this day, we reflect on the progressive actions that the Government of Zimbabwe has made towards recognising the rights of persons with disabilities in their diversity (PWDDs) such as the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, putting in place the National Disability Policy that seeks to address the oppression, marginalisation and discrimination experienced by persons with disabilities, among other things,” said Ms Sibanda.
Government, she said, should further expedite the amendment of the 1992 Disabled Persons’ Act, to ratify the African Disability Protocol and to make commitments towards the financing of Disability Programing by operationalising the Disability Levy on the sale of fuel as proposed in the National Disability Policy.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every year on December 3.
The day promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
Online Reporter