Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities Incorporated
The Representative Voice of and for Persons with Disabilities in Dominica
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2011
Christmas is upon us again, and as we celebrate this joyous season of goodwill, giving and sharing, we must focus our attention on the millions out there, who will not have the benefit of enjoying the celebrations, all because of the effects of disability.
As I deliver this Christmas Message on behalf of the Executive, Staff and Members of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD Inc.), allow me to again highlight some of the prevailing conditions, which continue to negatively impact the lives of persons with disabilities, causing them to not have, “a Merry Christmas” as the average citizen does.
My remarks are in keeping with the theme for INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (I.D.P.D.) 2011, which we celebrated on December 3rd, as well as our currant focus on getting Government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development” was this year’s theme for I.D.P.D. The question must be asked. Is our society really prepared to make this happen? Although Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, their entire community benefits, as their involvement creates opportunities for everyone – with or without a disability, yet their still exist numerous social barriers which prevent this from happening.
Including persons with disabilities and their communities in developmental efforts is important to advance the development agenda, and so, I must emphasize on the need for disability inclusive development cooperation.
It is imperative that development efforts include disability issues when determining policies, programmes, as well as allocating funds for developmental programmes and projects, since, mainstreaming disability in development is a strategy for achieving equality for persons with disabilities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is both a human rights treaty and a development tool, provides an opportunity to strengthen developmental policies related to the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and we must also ensure that disability is an intrinsic part of the Millennium Development Goals and of all development programmes post 2015.
It is estimated that there are now one billion persons around the word living with disabilities, eighty per cent of which reside in developing countries. They are largely excluded from civil and political processes and are overwhelmingly voiceless in matters that affect them and their society.
Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as family members or care-givers.
This is all the more reason, why Governments around the world, should, without reservation, ratify the U.N.Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Let me therefore, at this season of Glad Tidings and Joy, make another impassioned plea to our Government to ratify this Convention. Until this is achieved, persons with disabilities will continue to remain largely marginalized, disproportionately poorer, economically disadvantaged, and not enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.
I extend a Blessed and Spirit-filled Christmas to all persons with disabilities, our benefactors, partners and associates, and look forward to a Productive, Prosperous and Progressive New Year.
Let us all work together, and contribute to the realization of a “society for all” in the twenty-first century.
Signed
Michael Murphy
President
As I deliver this Christmas Message on behalf of the Executive, Staff and Members of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD Inc.), allow me to again highlight some of the prevailing conditions, which continue to negatively impact the lives of persons with disabilities, causing them to not have, “a Merry Christmas” as the average citizen does.
My remarks are in keeping with the theme for INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (I.D.P.D.) 2011, which we celebrated on December 3rd, as well as our currant focus on getting Government to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development” was this year’s theme for I.D.P.D. The question must be asked. Is our society really prepared to make this happen? Although Experience shows that when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, their entire community benefits, as their involvement creates opportunities for everyone – with or without a disability, yet their still exist numerous social barriers which prevent this from happening.
Including persons with disabilities and their communities in developmental efforts is important to advance the development agenda, and so, I must emphasize on the need for disability inclusive development cooperation.
It is imperative that development efforts include disability issues when determining policies, programmes, as well as allocating funds for developmental programmes and projects, since, mainstreaming disability in development is a strategy for achieving equality for persons with disabilities.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is both a human rights treaty and a development tool, provides an opportunity to strengthen developmental policies related to the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and we must also ensure that disability is an intrinsic part of the Millennium Development Goals and of all development programmes post 2015.
It is estimated that there are now one billion persons around the word living with disabilities, eighty per cent of which reside in developing countries. They are largely excluded from civil and political processes and are overwhelmingly voiceless in matters that affect them and their society.
Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as family members or care-givers.
This is all the more reason, why Governments around the world, should, without reservation, ratify the U.N.Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Let me therefore, at this season of Glad Tidings and Joy, make another impassioned plea to our Government to ratify this Convention. Until this is achieved, persons with disabilities will continue to remain largely marginalized, disproportionately poorer, economically disadvantaged, and not enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.
I extend a Blessed and Spirit-filled Christmas to all persons with disabilities, our benefactors, partners and associates, and look forward to a Productive, Prosperous and Progressive New Year.
Let us all work together, and contribute to the realization of a “society for all” in the twenty-first century.
Signed
Michael Murphy
President
