Human Rights Month: The right to dignity and respect
Sister Wendy Robinson, resident nurse at Northbay Lodge, brings awareness to the fact that the use of appropriate language and etiquette when communicating with or making reference to persons who are physically or mentally challenged is important as it accords them dignity.
THE United Nations has a clear definition of human rights – they are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion or any other status.
This also applies to people with mental challenges, however, their right to dignity is often stripped of them due to the conditions they face and the specialised care that they require.
This Human Rights Month (March) and Human Rights Day, coming up tomorrow (21 March), Sister Wendy Robinson, resident nurse at Northbay Lodge, wants to create awareness around the right to dignity for people with physical and mental disabilities. March is also Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Also read: The significance of Human Rights Month
The facility, situated in Durban North, is one of the few that caters for the holistic needs of those with physical and mental challenges.
Section 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the right to human dignity: “Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.” Human dignity is a central value of the objective, normative value system established by the Constitution.
“Although the term, ‘person with a disability or disabilities’ is acceptable, I feel a better word to use is ‘challenge’. Having a mental condition is not a disability as one may still have many abilities, and the focus needs to be on these abilities. It’s important to focus on what a person can do instead of what a person can’t do,” said Sr Robinson.
She said a very common finding among people with mental challenges is that they are isolated from the rest of the world.
“The idea is not to label them and tuck them away; it’s to shower them with the love and care they need and help them become productive members of society, which most can do if they are given the opportunity and shown how to,” she said.
“The community must understand that people with mental and physical challenges are not ‘abnormal’ or ‘handicapped’. These terminologies are unacceptable and should not be used when addressing a person with different challenges. They’re human and should be accepted as they are,” she added.
Sr Robinson encourages all to familiarise themselves with the acceptable terminology according to the South African Human Rights Commission.
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