International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2015 — “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment”
By Rachel Kachaje, DPI Interim Chair
Delivered at UNESCO, Paris, 3 December 2015, by Rachel Kachaje — former Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Malawi, and DPI Interim Chair.
It is an honour for me to share the ideas and experiences of my colleagues in the disability sector all over the world on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on the theme “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people with disabilities”, here in Paris where states join their efforts to build a sustainable world for future generations.
Why the theme “Inclusion matters”? It means somebody has been excluded from the matters that affect their lives — and persons with disabilities have been excluded since time immemorial. When you talk of access, it is a very broad subject: infrastructure, information in accessible formats, transport systems and much more. Access and empowerment go hand in hand. Persons with disabilities have been lobbying and advocating every day, and I have come to realise that advocacy without empowerment is equal to nothing.
The Convention clearly recognises participation in political and public life not only as an objective in itself but as a pre-requisite for the enjoyment of other rights. Through consultation on law and policy reform and monitoring of the Convention, persons with disabilities can influence the decisions that affect all citizens who have — or will have — to live with a transformation of their abilities.
These positive results must be recognised, encouraged and respected everywhere: first by supporting the participation of persons with disabilities at all levels, not only in a consultative role but as one of the pillars of sustainable development. Our voices do not make the law, but without our contributions and expertise the law misses its targets. Our voice is diverse, unique and essential for building a better world tomorrow — breaking barriers and promoting human rights, not only for persons with disabilities but for all.
