The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed annually on 3 December, to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.
This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is commemorated in conjunction with the 13th session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities also marks the end of the Disability Rights Awareness Month 2020 (DRAM 2020) and is the apex of the month-long campaign.
The International theme for this year is “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”.
As part of the activities for the day, President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair a meeting with the Presidential Working Group on Disabilities and deliver the national remarks to close the meeting.
The meeting will be attended by the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite-Nkoana Mashabane and Economic Cluster Ministers.
The objective of the meeting is to deliberate on economic empowerment programmes and projects envisaged to empower the disability sector.
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize will lead the South African delegation at the 13th Session of the UN Conference of State Parties (COSP13) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The session will take place on the 1st and 3rd of December 2020 Due to COVID-19 the session will be hosted virtually at the United Nations Headquarters.
Deputy Minister Professor Mkhize will deliver the country position statement on 3 December 2020,
COSP13 will host 3 roundtables under the following themes:
Disability and business: realizing the right to work in open, inclusive and accessible environments for persons with disabilities.
- Addressing the rights and needs of older persons with disabilities: ageing and demographic trends
- Promoting Inclusive environments for the full implementation of the CRPD
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol (OP) was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007.
The convention reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. South Africa became a signatory of both the CRPD and the Optional Protocol (OP) on 30 March 2007, on the first day when the CRPD and OP was opened for signing, and ratified both the CRPD and OP without reservation/declaration on 30 November 2007.
- Learn more about COSP13 here: https://tinyurl.com/y2z5fc3y
- You will be able to follow the conference live here: http://webtv.un.org/
- For interviews please contact Ms Mmabatho Ramompi 076 480 3513 mmabatho.ramompi@women.gov.za
- For further information please contact Mr Shalen Gajadhar: 060 979 4235
- Know and Share these contact details:
- GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428 / *120*7867# from any cell phone
- Persons with disabilities, SMS ‘help’ to 31531
- Women Abuse Helpline: 0800 150 150
- Child line: 0800 055 555
- SAPS Crime Stop: 0860 10111
- GBVF-related service complaints (SAPS): 0800 333 177/
- complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za
- National AIDS Helpline: 0800 012 322
- National Human Trafficking Helpline: 0800 222 777
- Suicide Helpline: 0800 567 567
- National Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.za
- National Institute of Communicable Diseases: https://www.nicd.ac.za
- World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int
- Coronavirus Hotline: 0800 029 999
