As the nation mobilizes its resources to ensuring economic prosperity and realizing sustainable peace, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) is untiringly working to execute its assignments to arrest the long-lasting grievances and narrow all the political differences.
As it was indicated by the Commission, this open discussion is instrumental to identify root causes of conflicts and; allows reaching mutually agreeable solutions and advancing development.
To this end, the Commission is actively engaged in bringing sustainable peace all over the country by using all the available platforms. That is why it is engaging with several sections of the society and discusses issues that can bring sustainable peace and security throughout the country. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, including government representatives, competing groups, religious and community leaders as well as other relevant parties, the Commission has ben endeavoring to create platforms for dialogue and negotiations.
In fact, Commission`s unwavering engagement demonstrates its commitment to discuss matters with various opinions and concerns and the extent of its willingness to fostering an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between and among different groups and at the end of the day realize what is expected- to bring in peaceful resolution and sustain peace and security across the country.
Mainly understanding the irreplaceable value of encompassing each and every segment of the society, it is trying to involve different sections of the community and make the process more inclusive and fair.
In this regard, according to the Federation of the Ethiopian National Associations of Persons with Disability (FENAPD), various activities that enhance the participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are ongoing.
As indicated by the General Director of the Federation, Abayneh Gujo, due to conflict and security related challenges that came to happen in the country at different times, citizens are prone to social, economic and political crisis.
As part of this concern and seeing the role of every Ethiopian towards reaching consensus, building national peace, and ensuring sustainable growth, the Federation of the Ethiopian National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FENAPD) has recently discussed on the role of individuals with disabilities to ensure sustainable peace through dialogue.
Interviewed by ENA, the General Director said that peace is not something that would be compromised with. Preserving national peace and security lies on its peace and stability. For this very reason, discussing matters that can be source contentions in a peaceful way, identifying the root causes of the conflict and addressing them in amicable matter is of critical importance to sustain peace.
In this regard, the National Dialogue Commission that was established to bring to resolve grievances and ensure sustainable peace through holding peaceful dialogue and increasing the active participation all section of the society has key role to play. However, for the successful realization of the process, the participation of all is decisive.
As one member of the society, those individuals with some type of disabilities are also responsible to play key role in the efforts put forth to ensure peace. To this end, the Federation is working aggressively to create awareness among its members, according to him.
Underscoring that the active involvements of every Ethiopian citizen add value to the works of the Commission Abayneh said that the participation of individuals with disability and their inclusiveness in the dialogue clearly shows the decisiveness of the Commission to ensure peace within short time.
When asked by this reporter to comment the contribution of persons with disability in the national dialogue, Amare Hailu, a person with physical disability, said that PWDs are highly susceptible to peace and security related problems. The recent activity of the Federation to create favorable platforms and mechanisms that would enable people with disabilities to participate effectively in the national dialogue is worth appreciating.
He also said that, arranging the required accommodations such as sign language interpretation, captioning or accessible transportation should be taken into consideration. Additionally, it is crucial to actively seek the vires and opinions of people with disabilities and ensure that they are given equal opportunities to voice their concerns and contribute to the dialogue.
Ethiopia, as a nation that aspires to become economically strong and democratically model to other African countries, has taken the principles of inclusiveness and representation as fundamental pace and it is striving to ensure the equal rights of people with disabilities in decision-making process that affects their lives. Certainly, by actively involving people with disabilities in the national dialogue process, Ethiopia can benefit from their unique perspectives, experiences and insights.
As the saying goes “Disability is not inability” individual with disability has a lot to contribute in the peace building process. Using their experiences and insights, they can contribute valuable ideas and suggestions that can be taken as inputs to address the basic challenges of the country faced.
Above all, their active participation can leave a mark in the Ethiopian politics by addressing specific challenges they faced: accessibility, inclusion and equal opportunities.
Most importantly, enhancing the involvement of people with disabilities in the national dialogue process can help curtail the stereotypes and misconceptions about their abilities. Active participation of individuals with disabilities will create an opportunity to promote awareness, understanding, and empathy in society, leading to more inclusive and encouraging environment for everyone.
Indeed, involving people with disabilities in the national dialogue in Ethiopia is not a matter of inclusivity and human rights but also a way to employ their potential and expertise. Their participation can lead to better policies, increase understanding, and create a more equitable society that truly values diversity.
As it is witnessed from Ethiopia`s and other countries experiences, whenever there is political instability and insecurity, it is women, children and those physically disabled members of the society who are directly or indirectly becoming vulnerable to violence and conflicts. Like that of women and children, physically disabled individuals are seen encountering additional sufferings in times of war, conflict or instability.
Despite the fact that they are the one who are direct victims of conflicts and instabilities, unquestionably, people with disabilities have key role in the economic progress of the nation and in the peace process.
Thus, enhancing their involvement in country’s overall activities and creating enabling environment that is conducive to their day to day activity is not something that would be ignored.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 29 DECEMBER 2023
