02/04/2024
Persons with disabilities demand inclusion in Parliament
Tereza Jeremiah
August 16, 2023
Subject: South Sudan’s Persons with Disabilities (PWD) are appealing for representation at the National Legislative Assembly.
Miss Deaf Africa, Josephine Kiden, said despite several calls for equal representation of persons with disabilities at all levels of
government, deaf people have never been represented in parliament. Kiden made the call during the launch of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on Tuesday
in Juba. “Do not underestimate persons with disabilities, and with that, I would be grateful if they would get someone with a hearing impairment
to be in parliament,” Kiden said. I am also a person with disabilities advocating for the same cause to get representation in all level of
government from National all the way to States, and counties in the Parliament. We are the best people who will speak on our behave 100%
clear point why we need this positions in the parliament. We demand 10 seats as MP according to three region of Greater Upper Niles, Greater
Equatoria and Greater Bahl El Ghazel to represent us in the parliament. Many people in South Sudan do not know their rights in the Constitution
to ask for services guarantee by the law of land that reason now we the People with Disabilities must advocate for our rights. I encourage
all the disability associations around the South Sudan to raise their voice about this important right in the Constituion to fight for services.
For Kiden, campaigning for people with disabilities to be represented in Parliament is one of her main goals she will be happy
witnessing its achievement. She urged the government to put into effect the UN Convention, which President Salva Kiir signed in February 2023,
as well as other measures.The convention’s goal is to protect, promote, and ensure that all persons with disabilities have full and equal enjoyment
of their human rights and basic freedoms. A significant step forward was taken to protect and promote the rights of people living with
disabilities. Parliamentarians, Government Members and partners should came together to discuss how to better include disability.
According to Light for the World, a local NGO, there are currently 1.2 million individuals living with disabilities in South Sudan,
with around one-fifth of them suffering from disabilities caused by violence.
Parliament’s should commitment to the rights of people living with disabilities and pledged to study the possibility of developing a
parliamentary resolution to adopt on the rights of people with disabilities. We are glad for South Sudan government for signing proposal for
ratification of ''The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.''
“Government has the obligation to protect persons with disabilities and not to exclude them from development programming and planning,”
People living with disabilities are one of the groups most ''left behind'' in South Sudan. For example, 72 per cent of people living
with disabilities in South Sudan have not attended school (Census 2015). Stigma, discrimination and limited availability of inclusive
services are among the causes. Ratified the UN Convention on the ''Rights of Persons with Disabilities.''
This has been a key aspiration and demand of people living with disabilities has experienced and observed discrimination and violence in
his community.
Government has the obligation to protect persons with disabilities and not to exclude them from development programming and planning
“The voice of persons with disabilities will be stronger if we have the support of a wide range of people, especially from those at
the highest levels of the State,” de Silva said.Several key Government Members and officials and Members of Parliament presented progress
to better include persons with disabilities.
Transitional National Legislature of South Sudan Speaker (Assembly) RT Hon Jemma Nunu Kumba,
Her Excellency Hon Aya Benjamin Libo Warille Minister of Gender Child and Social Welfare
Her Excellency Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng Juach Minister of Health.
Her Excellency Hon. Awut Deng Acuil Minister of Education
His Excellency Minister of Higher Education, Science & Technology Gabriel Changson Lew Chang.
Solidarity and Inclusion Education, Health, Businesses, Social Security and Gender Equality said the committee’s door is open for people
living with disabilities. ''We are keen on continuing the collaboration andto hear more about the concerns of women, men and children living with
disabilities.” About how to include disability in legislation, policy and planning. Recognizing inclusion as the key for sustainable development
in the future Including disability is the right and just thing to do, Presented data which showed how including people with disabilities has economic
benefits for the country.Everyone can acquire a disability in their lives, so it is in everyone’s interest to work toward better inclusion, with additional
responsibilities for those in position of authority to make this a reality,'' she said.
These days we have seen a number of potential persons with disabilities and we must create an inclusive budget to invest
in their capacity and have them also contribute to sustainable development many participants signed a declaration
for the ''Protection and Promotion of Persons living with a Disability," for submission to Parliament.
Chiang Peter Kuek
Advocate for People with Disability
CEO/Founder South Sudan Disability Association
