Some of person with disability during the launch the UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Phot Credit: Garang Daniel/August

The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare on Tuesday launched the UN Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, six months after it was assented into law by President Salva Kiir.

It was launched six months after President Salva Kiir signed the international convention into law – confirming the country as a party to it.

Esther Ikere, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Gender said the launch aims at raising awareness on the rights of Persons with Special Needs.

She said the event also sets advocacy for inclusive representation of Persons with Disabilities at all levels of government.

“The objective of this launch is to raise awareness on the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities at the national and States level,” she said.

“We are advocating for the promotion and protection of the rights of Persons with Disabilities and we are advocating for inclusive representation of Persons with Disabilities at all levels.”

Ms. Ikere also said her ministry has set up mechanisms to disseminate the convention in different languages, for it to be understood at the grassroots levels.

She further stated that they are reviving the Disability Focal Persons in the relevant ministries and commissions to spearhead the implementation of the provisions of the conventions.

“We have to ensure that the convention is interpreted using our own languages so that people at the grassroots are able to understand what the convention is about,” Ikere said.

“On issues of institution building, we know that disability is multidimensional, implementation will also be multisectoral. So, the ministry is now taking the lead in reviving the Disability focal persons in line ministries and also, we are establishing new Disability focal persons in line ministries and commissions.”

“We will also be establishing the coordination mechanisms at the national and State levels. We have developed the national Disability and Inclusion Policy, and we have also developed the National Disability Action Plan which is already in place, spearheading implementation”.

On his part, Augustino Wudu, the Chairperson for the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities says the group has the potential to contribute to national development.

He appeals to the government to ensure inclusive education as well as equal employment opportunities based on merits to benefit everyone.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization calls on the government to ensure adequate allocation of funds to support Persons with Disabilities.