DILI, 7 july 2023 (TATOLI) –The Secretary of State for Equality hosted a seminar to commemorate National Day for Persons with Disabilities.
This year’s seminar theme is “We Protect People with Disabilities.”
In his presentation during the seminar, Cesário da Silva, Executive Director of the Timor-Leste Association of Persons with Disabilities (ADTL), stated that persons with disabilities continue to face issues such as insufficient finances to address disability issues such as lack of access to public areas and public services. As a result, he requested that the government take steps that would significantly enhance the lives of disabled people.
“Lack of accessibility to public spaces, public buildings, and public services, as well as insufficient state budget funding, has become a major concern,” Cesario, at the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ office, in Dili said.
He emphasized that Timor-Leste has approximately 90,000 disabled persons, 17,000 of whom have infirmities that restrict them from undertaking tasks outside the home. In this regard, Da Silva also requested that the future Prime Minister consider the status of people with disabilities while developing government programs.
Similarly, Mateus da Costa, the National Director for Protection, Training, and Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stated that states must prioritize the needs of people with disabilities, noting that Timor-Leste has accepted the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified by the Parliament on tuesday, 5,07,022 with 42 votes in favor, no votes opposed, and no abstentions.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (A/RES/61/106) and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) were enacted on December 13, 2006, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and were opened for signature on march 30, 2007. The Convention had 82 signatories, the Optional Protocol had 44 signatories, and the Convention had one ratification.
On the first day of a UN Convention, this is the biggest number of signatories in history. It is the first comprehensive human rights pact of the twenty-first century, as well as the first human rights convention open to signing by regional integration organizations. The Convention went into effect on may 3, 2008.
While july 4th was designated as a national day for people with disabilities by the National Parliament in march of this year.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
