With the aim of promoting, protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by all Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Ethiopia has signed various national and international conventions.
Not only the nation signed international conventions, but it has also formulates various laws and regulation to ensuring the rights of PWDs. One of such efforts is the formulation of the Ethiopian Disability Act that is being finalized and ready to appear for approval.
Though efforts are being exerted as well as numerous activities have been carried out by the association of PWDs and other bodies aiming at lessening the burden, due to various reasons, there are still number of barriers that still makes the lives and daily functions of PWDs limited and challenging.
Factors such as inaccessible physical environment, lack of relevant assistive technology, peoples’ stereotype towards disability, services, systems and policies that are either nonexistent or that hinder the involvement of all people with a health condition in all areas of life still remains challenges.
Following the 6th national election held on the just ended year, Ethiopia is preparing itself to establish a new government. While the preparation of the new government is still going on, various sectors and organizations are adjusting their ideas and procedures to go along with the new system and come up with better result in their area of works.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, Dibabe Bacha, General Director of the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA)uttered her expectation from the new government. She aspires if the new government gives more attention to persons with disabilities and be more open in letting them participate in every sphere of development activities thereby enhance their involvement in contributing to the overall growth of the nation.
Even though Ethiopia has signed international agreements,the problem is not having the necessary convention; but it lies on the lack of proper and adequate implementation of the signed agreements, she noted.
Thus, she stressed that attention should be given for the implementation of national, regional and international agreements that the nation has already signed and formulated.
“Though there are around 20 million Person With Disabilities (PWDs) in Ethiopia, we do not have equal political representation in the system which constraint us from having our say in the country’s political arena,” she said.
Moreover, the Ethiopian Disability Act that is being formulated should get priority to be approved by the government, according to her.
Apart from preparing all inclusive and accessible schools for PWDs, granting equal opportunities for qualified and competent women with disabilities would enable them to make use of their knowledge in the development of their country, she added.
As to Zenebech Getaneh, former Director of the Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA) and member of the general assembly of the Association, the new government should be inclusive and involve PWDs to constitute their share through creating equal access to education, employment opportunities and healthcare systems.
She said: “Providing equal opportunities for PWDs should not be considered as charity or an affirmative action. Our rights should be equally granted and the obstacles should be addressed.”
The new government should leave no room for discrimination on the rights of PWDs. Creating convenient and all inclusive environments must take the priority in its works, she stressed.
“Often times, we are considered as a burden rather than a person who possess equal right as the rest of citizens.” I believe that more emphasis should be given to changing the charity approach that the issue of PWDs is looked at.”
She further indicated that the new government should also take in to account the double challenges that most women with disabilities go through and create a platform that would have a meaningful impact on their social, economic and political lives.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
ETHIOPIAN HERALD 29 SEPTEMBER 2021
