Today is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In South Sudan the Association of the Visually Impaired has urged the government to include the needs of the disabled in the permanent constitution.

“It is an issue that is even taken by the United Nations General Assembly that persons with disabilities should be fully accommodated into any society,” Chairperson of the Visually Impaired Association, Ben Lou Pogo, told Eye Radio. “My appeal to the government is to see that the issues pertaining to persons with disabilities are given due attention so that no person is left out of the process of developing this nation.”

The Advocacy Officer for Handicap International, Henry Soka said that the government should empower people with disabilities.

“Of course there are people with disability who have got degrees and certificates and diplomats, but attitude is one of these things that are actually hindering their progress, not only in government but even NGOs,” Mr. Soka told Eye Radio. “I would to appeal especially to institutions when they advertise positions sometimes you find that they said applicant must be physically fit; I really would like to urge that we don’t continue to do this discriminatory adverts and least really that work is require some body to be physically fit. Otherwise, if you need an accountant, if you need a director or whatever, you don’t really need somebody who is physically fit. I am visually impaired but I have been working with Handicap International for the last two and half years, this is very important for us to move on. We need to invest on the people with disabilities we need to use their skills; we need them to be part and parcel of development of South Sudan.”

Mr Soka also said the five percent representation allocated to people with disabilities in the government institutions is not being observed.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked yearly to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.