Raw deal for disabled people

Mmegi Editor | Thursday August 18, 2016 11:30

In addition, the policies that have been adopted in favour of the disabled have been paralysed by poor and halting implementation, while fundamentals such as data and funding, remain grossly inadequate. According to the study, disabled people in Botswana suffer from violations around physical access to buildings and transport, access to education, health services, employment, information and ICTS, as well as political participation.

Awareness on disability rights is now among the disabled and the general public alike, while probative efforts by well-meaning institutions and agencies have often been undone by duplication and poor coordination. Essentially, the disabled in Botswana suffer exclusion, discrimination and stigmatisation and the disabled movement is weak, hindering efforts to advocate for their rights. There is no specific legislation to protect the rights of the disabled and this is worsened by the fact that Botswana is yet to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD), six years after it came into effect. Clearly, a lot has to be done to lift the disabled to an equal footing with their fellow citizens.

The solution may begin with government, which has the mandate to collate national feedback and develop responsive interventions, but it certainly does not end there. In fact, the study points the finger at the Legislature, where many of the loopholes begin. Legislators, rather than spending each sitting flinging insults at each other, could introduce legislation specifically aimed at redressing the inequality of rights the disabled face in Botswana.

Policymakers need to assess disability rights policy initiatives and include disabled persons in decision-making processes, while the Executive needs to ratify and domesticate the UN-CRPD taking into account the specific issues regarding disability in Botswana.

It is commendable that in 2010, an office for people with disabilities was established in the Office of the President, however, its mandate of coordinating disability-related policies and initiatives has evidently not been impressive. Thought also needs to be given to the role specially elected members of the House of Chiefs, local authorities and Parliament play. While the Constitution is silent on their specific role, it is clear that in other progressive democracies, these seats are reserved for special interest groups such as the youth, gender and disability to have a representative voice. Legislators, politicians and civic voices need to stimulate debate on how to better incorporate and empower the disabled within the citizenry and one of the starting points needs to be specific legislation addressing inequality.

Today's thought

'My disability exists not because I use a wheelchair, but because the broader environment isn't accessible.' 

- Stella Young