NEW YORK: India has adopted a landmark UN General Assembly’s document aimed at inclusion of disabled persons in all aspects of development and giving them due consideration in the post-2015 UN development agenda.
At a high level meeting on Disability and Development in the United Nations General Assembly, India also called upon the international community to identify measures and formulate policies for the disable to help enhance their accessibility to education, healthcare and employment.
The meeting had adopted an agreed “outcome document,” stressing the need to ensure accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kumari Selja, who led the Indian delegation, also stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation through exchange of good practices, capacity building and provision of technical assistance.
“The outcome document is expected to become a landmark declaration which will serve as a guide for framing laws and policies by all nations in the disability sector in the days to come,” a ministry statement said today.
The outcome document seeks to ensure that the inclusion of disabled in development policies including poverty eradication, social inclusion and productive employment amongst others.
It also seeks for the development of specific plans including the enactment or amendment and enforcement of national legislation, recognition of right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education accessible, free and compulsory and others.
Heads of state, governments and senior ministers of various governments attended the meeting to reaffirm their global commitment and to shape the discourse on disability issues in the emerging post-2015 development agenda.
The minister too reaffirmed India’s commitment to building an enabling and inclusive environment so that all persons with disabilities are able to enjoy their rights and realize their full potential in society.
Informing the international forum about various steps taken in this regard, Kumari Selja listed out India’s establishment of separate department of Disability Affairs, various laws, policies and programs governing disability sector implemented, action taken to make public buildings and websites accessible, establishment of national and regional institutes to train manpower and partnership with private sector and civil society.
The Outcome document was negotiated and adopted by the member states for the advancement of the rights disabled persons which are deeply rooted in the goals of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. -PTI
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