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12 Mar 2012

The Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Lulu Xingwana and the Deputy Minister, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, will place the rights of people with disabilities in the national spotlight when they host the National Disability Summit this weekend.

Among other things, the Summit will serve as a platform to update stakeholders on the progress registered by the department on the Draft National Disability Policy and Country Report that are being developed. The National Disability Policy will seek to give concrete expression to the rights of people with disabilities as reflected in the Constitution, various pieces of legislation and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The UNCRDP aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. It places a responsibility on governments to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to raise awareness throughout society regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, to combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, and to promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities.

The Summit will also seek to focus the attention of the nation on the National Campaign on Universal Access which requires governments to undertake appropriate measures to ensure access by persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

The summit will also create a platform for dialogue with the international development co-operation sector as well as the private sector in South Africa on issues of disability.

Members of the media are invited to attend the National Disability Summit as follows:

Venue: Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg
Date: 16-17 March 2012
Time: 8h30

RSVP:
Sello Molekwa
Tel: 012 359 0224
Cell: 071 613 6242

Phuti Mabelebele
Tel: 012 359 0222
Cell: 076 402 7521

Issued by: Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
12 Mar 2012

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