Petition urging Bangladesh to implement disability rights launched
Sightsavers Bangladesh on Sunday launched a petition with the urge for ensuring disability rights, a commitment of the United Nations and its member states, says a press release.
Bangladesh, as a member of the UN, the petition also puts forward a call to the government of Bangladesh to “I Call on the Government of Bangladesh to Put the Newly Approved National Plan of Action into Effect, to Implement the Disability Rights and Protection Act 2013.”
Sightsavers believes that this is highly important to ensure that the equal rights of people with disabilities are respected in Bangladesh and around the world. If the law is implemented, it will act as a means to take steps to ensure equal rights, full participation and opportunities of the people with all types of disabilities in Bangladesh.
People with disabilities become subject to different types of discrimination in the society and the state as well. This petition will sensitize and work as a reminder for the Government of Bangladesh, INGOs, NGOs, DPOs, CSOs, Donors, Media and other relevant stakeholders for putting their efforts to create opportunities for education, health and employment of the persons with disabilities.
Moreover, it is closely associated with the provision of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for improving the development, participation and protection of more disadvantaged people with disabilities.
It is estimated that 15 percent of the world’s population have some form of disability. The charity’s Equal World campaign aims to change the fact that in many countries people with disabilities experience high levels of discrimination that prevent them from taking active part in society.
Khondoker Ariful Islam, Country Director of Sightsavers, said, “People with disabilities, both in Bangladesh and around the world, are denied the rights to go to school, find a job, access to health care and take part in political processes. This discrimination is an injustice on a mass scale”.
“The petition launched today for disability rights has two specific goals. At the global level, it calls on the United Nations to make sure that its recently published disability strategy is implemented effectively. And at the national level, it calls on the Government of Bangladesh to implement Disability Rights and Protection Act and meet commitments made on disability inclusion.” The campaign is ambitious in its scale and is working with local disability groups and individuals in 193 countries around the world to get as many signatures as possible.
Chief Guest of the program, Farida Yasmin, General Secretary of National Press Club, said, “We want to show the widespread support for disability rights both in Bangladesh and globally. We also want the Government of Bangladesh and the UN to know that people everywhere are no longer prepared to tolerate the violation of the rights of the vulnerable people. I urge media personalities to cover life stories of the persons with disabilities, which will help improving awareness and thus can contribute removing stigma and discrimination.”
Actress Odhora Khan, who attended the program as a special guest, also appealed to the established personalities of the society, renowned celebrities and business communities to treat the persons with disabilities equally, include them in all sorts of activities and promote them with dignity in the society.
Alongside pledging to the UN, the Equal World petition has specific calls to action targeting the governments of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.
Petition signatures will be collected till December 3, and the petition will be handed over to the UN and the governments of relevant member states to coincide with the UN General Assembly to be held in New York.
To sign the Equal World petition, you can visit www.sightsavers.org/equalworld
