Development goals for disabled people
Email- The Guardian, Tuesday 24 September 2013 21.00 BST
In 2000, when 189 world leaders signed up to the millennium development goals, there was one omission no one appeared to notice: the one billion people across the world with disabilities. As the official UN process gets underway to establish the post-2015 global development agenda to end extreme poverty, we are calling on heads of state to ensure that, this time, no one is excluded, especially people with disabilities.
Living in poverty is tough. Living in poverty as a person with disabilities is often even tougher. In some countries, children with disabilities are twice as likely as children without disabilities not to be in school, and women and children with disabilities are significantly more likely to face violence and sexual abuse. Exclusion from work opportunities means that people with disabilities are disproportionately likely to be among the very poor. Four out of five persons with disabilities live in developing countries; many are among the poorest, most neglected people in the world.
Their exclusion from the millennium development goals has resulted in them being left out of development programmes. In fact, ignoring persons with disabilities costs poor countries – UN studies have shown that the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the labour market causes countries to lose up to 7% of GDP.
Children and adults with disabilities have the same hopes and aspirations as their peers. They have just as much to contribute to society, and they have the right to the same opportunities to fulfill their potential and to have a say in their future. Many people become disabled at some point – but we wouldn't expect to lose our basic rights as a result. The UN this week has a critical opportunity to ensure that disability is included in the new global development goals.
Abraham Tarbei Kenyan athlete and Paralympian gold medallist, Ade Adepitan British Paralympian and broadcaster, Aimee Mullins US Paralympic athlete, model, actress and speaker, Amadou and Mariam musicians from Mali, Amy Conroy British Paralympian, Andrea Begley singer, Angelique Kidjo singer from Benin, Anne Wafula-Strike British Paralympic Wheelchair Racer and author, Ben Quilter British Paralympic bronze medallist, Catherine Naughton Chair of the International Disability and Development Consortium, Daniel Dias Brazilian swimmer and Paralympian gold medallist, David Korir Kenyan athlete and world record breaker at the London 2012 Paralympics, Esther Vergeer Dutch wheelchair tennis champion and Paralympic medallist, Francesca Martinez British standup, actress, writer and campaigner, Frank Williams founder Williams Formula One racing team, George Abraham Indian philanthropist and founder of the World Blind Cricket Council, Dr Heba Hagrass Egyptian advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities in the Arab region, Henry Kirwa Kenyan athlete and world record breaker at the London 2012 Paralympics, Joseph Mawle British actor, Josh Blue US comedian, Kenya Disability Parliamentary Caucus (Kedipa), Mary Nakhumicha Kenyan athlete and Paralympian, Stephen Merchant British comedian, actor, writer and director, Samuel Mushai and his guide runner James Boit Kenyan Paralympians, Sarah Storey British track and road cyclist and Paralympian gold medallist, Sophie Christiansen British equestrian and Paralympian gold medallist, Teresa Perales Spanish swimmer, Paralympianmedallist and politician; Eric McKinnie, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams and Ben Moore members of US gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama; Warwick Davis British actor, Yannis Vardakastanis chair of the International Disability Alliance
الأهداف النمائية للأشخاص المعوقين
--Moussa Charafeddine MDPresident, Friends of the Disabled Association
www.friendsfordisabled.org
Honorary Life Member, Inclusion International
www.inclusion-international.org
President, Lebanese National Union on Intellectual Disability UNAPIEI
Tel:+9613612581 Home +9615601049 Office:+9615601663
Fax:+9615602445 PO Box 14-6688 Beirut, Lebanon
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