We recently celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), a day set by the United Nations to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This day was established with the aim of increasing awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Globally, we still witness the sad reality where disabled people often suffer discrimination because of prejudice or ignorance, and where they lack access to essential services.
Luckily, we live in a country, where over the years huge strides have been made in the integration of people with disability in society. A lot of emphasis has been done on the premise of achieving this through ‘accessibility’. Accessibility is often linked to ‘physical accessibility’ and this aspect, even if we’re in 2016, remains an issue to be dealt with.
We still find barriers to have full physical accessibility, even though it is not just the ‘physical’ accessibility we should thrive for. Despite the advances achieved over the years, we often find ourselves stressing the point of physical accessibility.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary since when the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that established the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The convention, which was ratified and enacted in Malta in 2012, aims to “protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”.
We’re seeing a shift from accessibility to integration and inclusion, from the elimination of physical barriers to paving the ways which lead to full inclusion
Its main message is that persons with disabilities are entitled to the full spectrum of human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination. To that end, the convention promotes the full participation of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life, challenging customs, stereotypes, prejudices, harmful practices and stigma relating to persons with disabilities.
In a nutshell, we’re seeing a shift from accessibility to integration and inclusion, from the elimination of physical barriers to paving the ways to lead to full inclusion and integration. This is based on seeing ‘integration’ beyond the physical.
In an era where the building of walls has become a recurrent theme, we should show how through the construction of roads we can create real integration which is based in respect to the full spectrum of human rights and where we achieve the full participation of persons with different abilities in all spheres of life.
The convention appeals for the challenge of customs and to look at things differently. This requires a change in mentality both of society but also of the people involved in this sector. We will continue in our efforts to make sure the right for a dignified life is achieved.
Dignity can only be achieved if there is full participation. Full participation is driven through our engagement. Our engagement is our duty. We have to continue the efforts, which have been started over the years, continued diligently over time and which are responsible to take us forward in the future.
We can’t seek further inclusion and integration in our society without strengthening and integrating our efforts. There’s strength in unity and we need to unify in our diversity. The sterling work, which each organisation has undertook in the past and present, has achieved a lot of results. However, if we manage to strengthen and connect our efforts together we can achieve more.
It is this ability, where we synergise all our efforts to provide the complete integration and inclusion through full accessibility in our society. This ability where we tear down barriers and whereby, through collective effort, we work to achieve full accessibility.
Over the past few decades, our society’s attitudes and laws have rightfully begun to change to reflect a more inclusive perspective on helping individuals with disabilities have accessibility. While a lot has been achieved towards physical accessibility for all individuals, we remain resolute to tear down those aspects, which form barriers for accessibility.
We are also pushing forward to continue to remove other less obvious barriers, which lead to a dignified, rich and fulfilling life for everyone.
Oliver Scicluna is Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability.