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11 December 2007

Renewing our pledge: decent work for persons with disabilities

Programme director
Members of the Executive Council
Member of the District Council
Ladies and gentlemen

This day is an important day in the calendar of our province, the country and the world because it marks the annual observance of the International Day of People with Disabilities. Although the designated day for this event is the 3 December of each year, it is not a coincidence that you decided that we should celebrate it a day after the celebration of the International Human Rights Day. I mention this because for many years under apartheid the human rights of the disabled were trampled upon and therefore many disabled persons experienced triple oppression during those days.

This year's theme: "Decent work for persons with disabilities", challenges us to see whether we are addressing the issues of equity and representation in the workplace and whether we are following the government's guidelines in this regard. For decades our society was deeply divided and characterised by an institutionalised and systemic racial, gender and disability discrimination. The people made it clear, when they voted the present government into power, that they wanted this picture to be turned around. As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the International Day for People with Disabilities, we celebrate with pride the significant milestones achieved since the dawn of our democracy.

We are here to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. We also seek to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

The government of the progressive movement has, with the full participation of people with disability, identified economic and social barriers as obstacles disabling people with disability from fully contributing in our society. This approach focuses on society's disabling environments and barriers of attitude, rather than on individuals with disabilities.

This year, South Africa was among the first twenty countries in the world to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We showed our state of readiness to integrate an international protocol into our own legislations. The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities advocates the following:

* respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices and independence of persons
* non–discrimination
* full and effective participation and inclusion in society
* respect for differences and acceptance of disability as part of human diversity and humanity
* equality of opportunity
* accessibility
* equality between men and women
* respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right to preserve their identities.

Our provincial government has adopted a number of legislations, policies and programmes aimed at empowering the designated groups, which include among others women, children and persons with disabilities. As a government we are saying:

* We acknowledge and respect that disability is a human rights issue and we are committed to uphold that.
* We object with possible terms abuses of disabled people's human rights.
* Forward with Economic, Social and Cultural rights for people with disabilities to achieve adequate standard of living.
* We commit to social protection to those in need.
* We commit to the highest possible standards of physical and mental health.
* We commit to inclusive education and reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities in mainstream schools.

To support what I have mentioned above, the Eastern Cape Government has done the following:

* We held a parliament in Mthatha a week ago to listen to the concerns of people with disabilities. We heard horrendous stories of assault, inflicted on disabled women by their partners.
* The Portfolio Committee on Youth, Gender and Disability hosted an award ceremony on Friday, 28 September 2007, to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the people with disabilities.
* We are establishing catering companies run and managed by disabled people.
* On the 25 of November 2007 the MEC of Housing and Local Government, MEC Ms Thoko Xasa handed out a significant amount of houses to the beneficiaries of the Lusikisiki Community from disadvantaged backgrounds. The beneficiaries comprise of women, elderly people, disabled persons and the survivors of abuse in Ematlaneni and Nkonzo Villages.
* In the Shiloh irrigation project and more recently in Elundini, 10 sheep and 10 goats were given to disabled people and a farm was identified for handing over to disabled farmers.

Additionally we are reviewing the Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) and our Provincial Programme of Action on Disability. The result of these processes will have a direct effect on the government's planning process. They will lay a strong foundation for the integration of disability into our planning and budgeting processes.

We will be using the Integrated Provincial Disability Strategy to achieve the inclusion of issues of the disabled and to ensure that the designated groups are mainstreamed within the Integrated Development Strategy.

We will continue with the full implementation of the White Paper on inclusive education. This is a government route that guides us to achieve mainstreaming of disabled students into able-bodied education system. Doing so allows disabled learners to partake in the subjects and courses of their choice. However, it is important for educators to be sensitive to the needs of the newly accepted disabled learners.

Much more could be done to effectively use public resources in alleviating the poverty and marginalisation of people with disabilities. I believe the social grant system and the delivery of public services to disabled people must be transformed at every level, in terms of administration and distribution, and within a wider poverty-eradication and integrated disability empowerment strategy.

However, many myths about employing a person with disability still remain. It is myths that result in stigmatisation of people with disabilities that we must resist as society because of their discriminatory nature. A study that was conducted by the Public Service Commission about our progress as the provincial administration over the years showed that significant strides need to be taken in order to achieve the set targets within the given timeframes. We need to take a giant leap towards addressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, both as employees in the workplace and as users of government services.

We call upon persons with disabilities to rise to the challenge, and seize the employment and other opportunities offered by government, and help in changing some of the discriminatory views that exist in society about disability. As government, we remain committed to promoting the human rights of people with disabilities and to ensure that they benefit equally from the democratic dispensation. We indeed renew our pledge to provide decent work for people with disabilities because we recognise their capabilities and their talents as equal members of our society.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
11 December 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)