Persons with disabilities begin discussions on actions against poverty and discrimination

Addis Ababa, 20 May 2008 (ECA) - More than 300 persons with disabilities today in Addis Ababa began a three-day conference, which is calling for international action on poverty, discrimination and lack of access for people living with disabilities.

Co-organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Leonard Cheshire Disability, the conference is focusing on issues related to better understanding, ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Of the 53 countries in Africa, only 15 collect data on persons with disabilities through housing and population censuses. The conference, over the next three days, will address the lack of data, strengthen accountability mechanisms for persons with disabilities and increase the responsiveness of governments to disabled people's organizations.

Conference organizers say the implementation of the Convention had the potential to eradicate the discrimination that blights the lives of the 650 million persons with disabilities. Today, only 45 percent of countries have legislation dealing with the rights of persons with disabilities.

Welcoming delegates at the opening, Thokozile Rudvidzo, ECA's Officer in charge of the African Centre for Gender and Social Development, called on countries to address social inequalities by adopting an inclusive development “that is human centred, socially sustainable and inclusive”.

“We need to adequately incorporate persons with disabilities in development frameworks and programme at national and global levels,” said Ms. Rudvidzo, adding that the special needs of persons with disability should not be underestimated.