Government to host Webinar with the Disability Sector to continue calls for a Disability Inclusive Society during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, will host a webinar focusing on upholding the rights of persons with disabilities under the theme, “Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19 South Africa”
The purpose of this webinar is to conduct an interface dialogue as a direct result of the disability specific interventions undertaken by government across services and infrastructure within the COVID-19 government and civil society responses.
Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Rosemary Capa will unpack economic interventions for persons with disabilities during the lockdown period, and beyond.
The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides clear policy directives and implementation methods and guidelines, for government to implement programmes and projects to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 states that “everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law”. It thus guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to equality, non-discrimination and human dignity.
The Webinar is particularly relevant because persons with disabilities who are dependent on support for their daily needs may find themselves isolated and unable to cope during lockdown measures, while those living in care facilities are particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by a number of deaths in residential care homes and psychiatric facilities.
Persons with disabilities also continue to face discrimination and other barriers in accessing livelihood and income support, participating in online forms of education, and seeking protection from violence.
The webinar will bring together representatives from national governments, provincial governments, academic institutions, civil society organisations, donors, United Nations agencies, private sector organizations, youth-led organisations from across the relevant sectors, to have an open discussion on challenges that exist and the interventions being put in place to address these challenges.
Media is invited to participate as follows:
Date: 22 May 2020
Time: 10h00
Platform: Cisco Webex: Join using the link:
https://womengovza.webex.com/womengovza/onstage/g.php?MTID=e70f58e005c2ff6709a368effa1f5d729
Password: DWYPDA
Alternatively, you can view the Webinar live via our Facebook Page: Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (@dwypdza)
For interviews and further information please contact Ms Mmabatho Ramompi on 076 480 3513 / mmabatho.ramompi@women.gov.za, or Mr Pelane Mabula-Phakgadi on 0721692507 Pelane.mabula@women.gov.za
Enquiries:
Mr Shalen Gajadhar
Cell: 060 979 4235
E-mail: shalen.gajadhar@women.gov.za
