World Disability Day: UN calls for increased recognition of persons with disabilities

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan, calls for greater recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities.

“People with disabilities of all age groups have been identified as a particularly marginalized and at-risk group within Somali society. The number of people with disabilities in Somalia is likely to exceed the global estimate of 15% of the population due to the long period of conflict, humanitarian emergencies and limited access to medical care, ”said Special Representative Swan.

The theme of this year’s commemoration is “leadership and participation of people with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world”. The issue is relevant in Somalia as it underscores the need for the full participation of persons with disabilities in the ongoing electoral process and in efforts to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has added additional challenges to the existing vulnerabilities of people with disabilities. This requires greater and concerted efforts by Somalia to address the immediate and long-term needs of persons with disabilities, including ensuring their participation in all spheres of society and in leadership, ”added Special Representative Swan.

Somalia enacted the National Disability Agency bill in December 2018, ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in August 2019, and launched the National Disability Agency in July 2021.

“I encourage the federal government of Somalia to increase support for the National Disability Agency, a key body promoting the rights of persons with disabilities,” said the UN Special Representative in Somalia, adding, “The UN in Somalia continues committed to supporting Somalia in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and looks forward to the completion of the draft national law on the rights of persons with disabilities, to be enacted in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons people with disabilities ”.