Disabled Peoples International discusses issues affecting the disabled
Henrietta Davis-Wray
The needs and rights of persons with disabilities are often overlooked in favor of others who are considered physically capable. The government has agreed to take every possible action so that children with diverse abilities can enjoy all human rights and freedoms equally with other children. This is in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Presently on a working visit to Belize is Henrietta Davis-Wray, Acting President of Disabled Peoples International, North America and Caribbean. She is here to meet with the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities to discuss issues affecting the disabled.
Henrietta Davis-Wray, Acting President, Disabled Peoples International
“From the discussions the awareness of the Belizean people is lacking and so we are hoping that coming out of this workshop the executive members will be so empowered that they are able to conduct the business and not be afraid to step out and approach the government, the states because they are the lawmakers, they are the legislation. People who seek to bring all policies and programs as it relates to persons with disabilities into action. And so we are hoping that coming out of this workshop members of the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities will be able to make approaches to the various government entities, agencies that have responsibility for example: education, housing, employment training, entertainment that all those main core areas of society they will be a part of the decisions that are being made and the legislations that put in place that they will be a part of the committees that comprise the drafting of those legislation. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UNCRPD, we are encouraging the Caribbean islands for the respective governments to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities because this is a document that binds the government. When you sign it you are making a commitment, if you fail to deliver justice to a person with disability this document will allow you to take your respective country to the United Nations to seek justice. And so a part of our sensitization and our awareness to the countries within the Caribbean is for the governments to sign on to this document because globalization is very important and that’s where the world is going now.”
Davis-Wray concludes her visit to Belize on Friday, following an all-day symposium with persons of diverse abilities across the country.
