Discussing disability rights in Diepsloot
DIEPSLOOT – A Disability Rights Symposium was recently held in Diepsloot, and aims to ensure the rights of disabled children in South Africa.
Afrika Tikkun, an organisation that hopes to improve the rights of children through access to health, education and social services, held a Disability Rights Symposium in Diepsloot recently in order to bring more attention to obtaining rights for differently-abled children in South Africa.
The symposium took place at Afrika Tikkun’s Wings of Hope Community Centre on 16 March, with the day focused on addressing the theme ‘Empowerment through partnership: Working together towards the effective implementation of the convention of the rights of persons with disabilities in South Africa’.
The talk was so themed in reference to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which is an international treaty aimed at recognising the rights of people with disabilities, and which South Africa ratified (signed in agreement to) in 2007.
Although South Africa has good legislation aimed towards ensuring the rights of those with disabilities, concern has grown over the last few years at the country’s ability to implement these rights for citizens.
Read Choir and Afrika Tikkun children sing their hearts out
“[The symposium was the first step] in building a coalition of actors in the disability sector that will reignite the vibrancy of the disability sector, and cultivate a voice with the kind of political capital needed to bring about real change in our democracy for persons with disability,” explained a statement issued by Afrika Tikkun.
Speakers involved with the symposium included Professor Michael Stein of Harvard Law School, who is an expert in disability law and policy and participated in the drafting of the CRPD; Jean Judes, the executive director of the Beit Issie Shapiro organisation that leads a coalition of about 60 disability-related organisations in Israel; and South African researcher Dr Jean Elphick.
The symposium was opened by Israeli ambassador Arthur Lenk.
To learn more about the Afrika Tikkun organisation, visit their website at https://www.afrikatikkun.org/
If you are looking for support for your or a loved one’s disability, or for more information, you can contact the City of Joburg Disability Office on 011 407 7342.
Do you think South Africa has done enough to ensure and protect the rights of the disabled? Share your thoughts with us by emailing fourwaysr@caxton.co.za
