BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
Unarguably, persons with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic outcomes such as less education, poorer health outcomes, lower levels of employment, and higher poverty rates. Poverty may increase the risk of disability through malnutrition, inadequate access to education and health care, unsafe working conditions, a polluted environment, and lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Disability may also increase the risk of poverty, through lack of employment and education opportunities, lower wages, and increased cost of living with a disability.
In fact, countries are working to address the challenges through devising systems that could help the disadvantaged segments of the society; let them use technology as well as increasing awareness towards peoples with disabilities.
Of late, the Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPWDs) marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission under the theme: “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable World.”
Association Law Expert Mussie Tilahun said that, Ethiopia should take serious measures in the accessibility and inclusiveness of the disabled persons in all activities of the country. Over 20 million people have been living with some type of disabilities whilst 98 percent of them are out of jobs, 90 percent haven’t got education opportunities, and 95 percent have been living under poverty line across Ethiopia.
“Lack of awareness among the society, inaccessibility of transportation, lack of education opportunity, among others are the serious factors hindering efforts to meet disabilities’ interest so far,” he added. He further said that widening education opportunity, making structural institutions, bridging communication gaps, expanding accessibility, creating jobs and raising peoples’ awareness help to bring significant change on the life of people with disabilities in a sustainable manner.
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa Public Affairs Officer, Douglas Johnston on his part said that, the main purpose of the event is widening the accessibility and inclusiveness of disabled persons in all activities thereby raising awareness among the societies. The U.S. has been giving serious attention to the disabled persons and is keen to meeting their interests.
Commissioner for Disability Rights and the Rights of Older Persons, Rigbe Gebrehawaria on her part said that, the Commission has been undertaking various activities to ensure the benefit of disabled persons though a lot remains to be done.
Citing a recent report, she added that many countries like Ethiopia have been losing 5 billion USD a year due to the absences of disability inclusiveness. Therefore, Ethiopia should increase the involvement of disabled people in all sectors – in the business, education, employment, and other institutes to bring significant development in the country.
Meanwhile, Enat Bank and Ashagari Consultancy Firm signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operationalize women empowerment principles with a view to empowering women in the workplace, marketplace and within the community.
Enat Bank Operational Vice President Tigist Abate told The Ethiopian Herald that the issue of women has received due attention at the global level. Thus, to ensure women’s universal benefits in all aspects, it needs collaboration and organized work.
“Women are vulnerable to gender violence because they are economically poor. Therefore, Enat Bank is working to economically empower women joining hands with stakeholders like the UN Women and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs.”
Adviser of the State Minister in the Women and Children Department at the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs Zibider Bogal on her part said that, the Ministry is working with international institutions and private companies to provide women with economic, political, and social support. “In order to empower women economically as expected, we should work with all concerned bodies.”
Deputy Representative of UN Women Schadrack Dusabe said that there are a number of works to operationalize women empowerment principles. The signature is a milestone to improve women rights via increasing their participating in political, economic and social aspects.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2022
