Programme Director
My colleague, Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize
Mayor of eThekwini, Mr James Nxumalo
Chairperson of DPI, Wilfredo Guzman Jara
Chairperson of DPSA, Mr. Muzi Nkosi
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Since the beginning of the Assembly on Monday, there have been discussions on a number of issues affecting people with disabilities. There has been a great deal of focus on the issue of sexual abuse, particularly of women with disabilities as well as the challenge of HIV and AIDS in this sector.
The recommendation coming from the Assembly is that the criminal justice systems in our respective countries need to be mainstreamed to respond adequately to the circumstances facing people with disabilities. We have to work towards raising community awareness about the challenge of abuse of people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves have to be empowered to report cases of abuse.
One of the cases presented at this Assembly was how do we deal with the problem of identification of suspects in cases where a blind person is the victim of crime, particularly rape. At the moment, suspects are identified through a parade and this does not accommodate blind victims. People who are blind have a way of identifying people and this should be accommodated within the criminal justice system.
As a country, we will be integrating the challenge of abuse of women and children with disabilities in our national programme to deal with gender-based violence including the 16 Days of Activism Campaign on No Violence against Women and Children which commences next month. We have developed a 365 Days National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and this will also include a focus on women and children with disabilities.
This Assembly has brought to the fore the issues of sexuality relating to people with disabilities. As we go back to our respective countries, we have to ensure that disability is integrated into national programmes for prevention, care and treatment of HIV and AIDS. We have to address, in particular, communication barriers and adapt HIV and AIDS messages in manner that is accessible to all.
Programme director, we once again express our appreciation as a host country to the DPI Executive committee and the disabled community in general for affording us an opportunity to host this prestigious Assembly.
We want to ensure that the hosting of the Assembly in KwaZulu-Natal leaves a lasting legacy in this province. We increased the number of representatives of local Disabled People’s Organisations to facilitate exposure to these international discussions. Tomorrow, we are visiting a skills development project for people with disabilities at Illovu, south of Durban. This is a partnership with the Department of Labour and the Department of Social Development to increase access to skills and achieve economic empowerment of people with disabilities in this province.
I hope the logistical arrangements around this conference have facilitated your comfortable stay and participation at the Assembly. If you haven’t already, please find time to visit the various tourist sites available in this city and province and also enjoy the hospitality of our people.
Thank you very much for your attention and enjoy your meal.
Remarks by Hon Minister Lulu Xingwana
8th World Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International
Gala Dinner, Inkosi Albert Lithuli International Convention Centre
