Minister in the Presidency: Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane together with Deputy Minister in the Presidency: Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize will launch Disability Rights Awareness Month on Sunday, 03 November 2019, in Pretoria, Gauteng.
Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) will run from 03 November to 03 December 2019. The month-long campaign aims to raise awareness to the harmful effects stigmatisation, prejudice and stereotypes has on the disability sector. The campaign also aims to celebrate individuals who have overcome prejudice, societal barriers, and hardship to excel in their chosen fields.
The Department’s mandate is to lead on socio-economic transformation and participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities through mainstreaming, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation. Women, youth, persons with disabilities, the LQBTQIA+ community, orphans and older persons are considered vulnerable as they tend to be at higher risk of social exclusion and marginalization. These groups often face higher rates of victimisation and abuse.
The theme for the month: Together Building South Africa Inclusive of Disability Rights responds to President Ramaphosa’s call to work together to grow South Africa. The theme for DRAM extends this mission to include persons with disabilities in achieving that goal, for a South Africa where everyone is included. The month long campaign carries weekly sub-themes which we appeal to the media to explore. The following sub-themes are intended to focus conversations on priority areas identified by the disability sector, which also link to the seven priorities of government:
- Week 1: Children and young people with disabilities empowered to chart their own destiny through access to quality lifelong learning
- Week 2: A built environment accessible to all persons with disabilities
- Week 3: Persons with disabilities as equal players in building inclusive economies
- Week 4: Children and women with disabilities – feeling and being safe as equal citizens in their communities
Members of the media are invited to the DRAM Launch event where Minister Nkoana-Mashabane will outline the disability inclusion commitments of the 6th Administration, and how the DWYPD will closely monitor progress and support innovation aimed at improving impact. Deputy Minister Professor Mkhize will unpack the weekly themes in detail, offering insights into successes and challenges that still persist. Leaders of the disability sector, inclusive of members of the Presidential Working Group on Disability will also be present for interviews on how government as well as civil society will work together to ensure the disability sector’s voice is heard by the department as well as other role players.
The launch will see the release of the look and feel for the month, a poster series promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as information supporting the weekly themes.
Members of the media are invited to the launch event, as follows:
Date: Sunday, 3 November 2019
Time: 10:30 for 11h00-13h00
Venue: GCIS, 1035 Tshedimosetso House, Corner Frances Baard and Festival Streets, Hatfield, Pretoria
Members of the media are encouraged to popularise the hashtag #DisabilityInclusiveSA by sharing content during Disability Rights Awareness Month.
For interviews contact:
Mmabatho Ramompi
Cell: 076 480 3513
Email: mmabatho.ramompi@women.gov.za
Ms Kea Motlokwa
Cell: 066 077 7347
Email: Keabetswe.Motlokwa@women.gov.za
Enquiries and RSVP:
Mr Shalen Gajadhar
Cell: 060 979 4235
Emai: shalen.gajadhar@women.gov.za
