The Deputy Minister of the Department of Social Development, Hon. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu MP, delivered a Country Statement at the 7th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York, which started today, 10th and ending on the 12th June 2014.
This year’s conference will focus its discussions on the sub themes: Incorporating the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the post-2015 Development Agenda; National Implementation and Monitoring, and Youth with Disabilities.
The commitment of the international community to the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities and their inclusion in society and development is deeply rooted in the goals of the United Nations, as enshrined in the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, which refers to fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person and the promotion of better standards of life in larger freedom.
In her statement, the Deputy Minister expressed support for inclusion of disability in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and encouraged State Parties, international development organizations, UN agencies, organs of civil society, persons with disabilities and their organizations in particular, to continue the campaign for an inclusive Post-2015 Development Agenda.
No global data exists on the number of youth with disabilities. However, estimates suggest that they constitute a significant group, with between 180 and 220 million youth with disabilities worldwide, nearly 80 per cent of who live in developing countries, according to the fact sheet on youth with disabilities produced by the United Nations for the International Year of Youth.
Youth with disabilities are often overlooked in programme planning. Mainstream development programmes for youth rarely include young men and women with disabilities. Programmes for people with disabilities, where they exist, are seldom inclusive, concentrating either on children with disabilities in schools, or families, or on employment and social integration of adults with disabilities. Few address the unique social, psychological, educational and economic needs of youth.
The Deputy Minister in her statement highlighted “We take pride as a country in having elevated the development agenda of young people to the Presidency, and that young persons with disabilities are represented on the governance structure of the National Youth Development Agency".
Speaking on the National Implementation and Monitoring, the Deputy Minister highlighted that South Africa is currently finalising its disability rights indicator matrix, which will bring to conclusion the development of the national disability rights monitoring and evaluation framework.
The 7th Conference of State Parties on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is currently taking place at the United Nations Headquarters as follows:
Date: 10 June - 12 June 2014
Venue: New York
Disability is both human rights and development issue.
Enquiries:
Emilie Olifant
Cell: 082 903 9250
Email: emilie.olifant@dwcpd.gov.za
