Policy to improve outlook for job-seekers with disabilities

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Pretoria - The National Disability Rights Policy, which is due to be finalised next year, is expected to put in place measures that will address factors preventing job-seekers with disabilities from getting jobs.

Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana said this will contribute to reducing the high incidence of underemployment of persons with disabilities in both the public and private sector.

“The finalisation of the National Disability Rights Policy is the first step towards domestication of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and will be followed by the passing of National Disability Rights Legislation and strengthening of sector-based legislation to remove discrimination and strengthen universal design access in all policies, programmes, services and budgets,” Xingwana said.

Addressing the National Day of Persons with Disabilities and the closing of National Disability Rights Awareness Month in Nelson Mandela Bay on Tuesday, Xingwana said the policy -- which is expected to be finalised before the 2014 National Day of Persons with Disabilities -- will include a national monitoring and evaluation system to track progress made in the realisation the rights of persons with disabilities. 

“The policy will also provide guidelines to strengthen the advocacy and monitoring capacity of disabled peoples’ organisations, and will guide on the designation of the independent monitoring mechanism provided for in Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“The establishment of the National Braille Authority and the recognition of South African Sign Language as an official language will furthermore contribute to accelerating the pace of achieving equality of outcomes for persons with disabilities,” Xingwana said.

National Disability Rights Awareness Month, observed under the theme ‘The Right to Universal Access and Design: Break Barriers, Open Doors to realise an Inclusive Society for All - Action through Partnership’, calls on South African citizens to reflect on the role played over the past year in creating a better life for persons with disabilities as equal citizens. – SAnews.gov.za