Yesterday marked a milestone for the government, and an important for people with disabilities. Botswana ratified the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities yesterday.
Speaking during the event, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration- Dumezweni Meshack Mthimkhulu pointed out Botswana’s measures in response to the ratification.
According to the Assistant Minister there is currently a radio program on Duma FM every Wednesday between 1400 hrs and 1500 hrs. Furthermore, Mthimkhulu says short films on the eight (8) principles of the Convention will soon appear on Botswana Television (BTV). These are meant to raise public awareness on the convention. Moreover, there is an exercise of dissemination of a Setswana translated easy to ready Booklet about the Convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a partner in these.
“Therefore, sectors are requested to apply the principle of universal design in programming and planning for national frameworks and where necessary, apply affirmative action to give persons with disabilities the necessary opportunity to actively participate in all spheres of development. Furthermore, I plead for a concerted effort on the implementation of the convention by all stakeholders, taking into consideration that as a state party to the convention we are expected to provide a report on the implementation progress every 2years.” Mthimkhulu appealed.
In the wake of this ratification, from now onwards all the public policies developed to address national issues should be audited to assess the inclusion of persons with disabilities and to encourage a disability friendly culture.
Moreover, Botswana is now obligated to ensure that in the development and implementation of legislation and policies, as well as other decision making processes, persons with disabilities are involved.
“I therefore also take this opportunity to call on all representative bodies of persons with disability, to join hands with government as advisors to ensure the adherence to the Convention, and above all, to help us to fully engage and respect the rights of persons with disabilities as we endeavour to realise the 2036 SDG agenda which calls for us to βreduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilitiesβ.”Mthimkhulu pleaded once more.
