President Salva Kiir has been hailed by civil society groups for assenting to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD).
Augustino Wudu, the Chairperson for South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities, said the Convention will improve protection of rights of persons with disabilities in the country.
“The signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the government of South Sudan demonstrates political commitment for promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities,” Wudu told journalists at the Central Equatoria Women Union Center in Juba on Saturday.
His remarks came in the aftermath of President Kiir assenting to four International Conventions including the UNCRPD, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Maputo Protocol and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Wudu urged the government to develop action plan for the implementation of the UNCRPD.
“Persons with disabilities are stake-holders in public governance affairs; this is why we are calling for inclusion in society and public life affairs. The signing of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities by the government obliges government and other stake-holders to be inclusive in all their institutional intervention,” he said.
“We urge the society and government to ensure that all their actions and decisions are in conformity with UNCRPD, meaningful and effective disability inclusion is required in South Sudan,” he said.
The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization Edmund Yakani, said they will work closely with Light for the World dealing with rights of persons with disabilities to develop action plan for the implementation of the UNCRPD and Maputo Protocol.
“CEPO in partnership with South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities and Light for the World will work closely with the National Ministry of Gender and Social Welfare for the development of action plan for the implementation of Maputo Protocol and the UNCRPD,” Yakani said.
Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, said members of parliament are still on recess and are expected to deliberate on the four conventions when they resume sitting on March 27th.
She added that President Kiir has demonstrated commitment to people with special needs and women’s rights.
