Ensuring the rights of people with disabilities
People living with disabilities face immense challenges. Apart from the physical or psychological struggles they deal with on a daily basis, they are also discriminated against in areas such as finding employment and being treated fairly and respectfully. Disability Rights Awareness Month reminds us that people living with disabilities should be afforded the same human rights as any other member of society.
According to Statistics South Africa, people with disabilities make up 7.7 percent of South Africa's population. South Africa has committed to international obligations to protect the rights of these people. In addition, the Bill of Rights explicitly prohibits any unfair discrimination against people on the basis of disability.The rights of people with disabilities are further protected by the Employment
Equity Act and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. But there are various challenges that still need to be addressed.
Globally, people with disabilities are marginalised and excluded from full participation in society. In South Africa, they face multiple forms of discrimination in various social spheres, including access to healthcare services, employment and education.
In terms of employment, South Africans with disabilities are still far less likely to be employed than the national average. A 2014 study from the University of Johannesburg found that 68 percent of working-age South Africans with disabilities had never even attempted to seek employment. There needs to be an urgent change in the tendency to view people with disabilities as less competent than others.
Currently, there are between
500 000 and 600 000 children with disabilities who do not attend school. Some of these were turned away from mainstream schools, which contravenes legislation that states there should be no unfair discrimination based on disability. Many schools are also failing to provide facilities such as wheelchair ramps and appropriate toilets. The same problem extends to universities. Policies such as the Department of Higher Education's Policy Framework on Disability (developed this year) will go some way towards solving this.
Attention also needs to be paid to strengthening the healthcare system's ability to provide services to people with disabilities, and ensuring that all facilities and public transport systems are adequately equipped to accommodate them.
In order to address these issues, the adoption of the Department of Social Development's White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is being urgently prioritised. This crucial document provides a much-needed framework for the norms and standards that should be followed in order to mainstream disabled people into society.
Meanwhile, the stigma people with disabilities face needs to be challenged in no uncertain terms. Existing legislation clearly states that all members of society are obligated to promote inequality. This month, all focus should be placed on promoting the rights of the most vulnerable residents of South Africa.