KUDOS to the government which will in April ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

This is an important step forward in line with the 1Malaysia concept of “people first” especially addressing one of if not the most neglected segments of the population.

The convention reaffirms that all persons with disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. By ratifying the convention now the government accepts its obligation and commitment to enforce in law and practice the tenets of the convention.

One estimate places the number of disabled at around 1% of our population, ie between 200,000 and 300,000. UN estimates place the number of disabled globally at about 10% of the  population.

If that proportion is applied to Malaysia the number will be considerably higher.

Going by Malaysia’s demographic profile it can be reliably assumed that about half of the disabled are children while nearly half of the total are female. The majority of the disabled live in conditions of poverty while the large proportion of those of working-age are not gainfully employed.

It is of great concern that this sizable proportion of the population represents a valuable human resource whose potential is neither fully developed, realised nor utilised.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is focusing on two areas, viz accessibility and employment, as priorities for this year. The lack of these is perhaps what impedes the disabled the most from being able to help themselves and live useful lives.

While new public and private construction, public places, infrastructure, amenities and public transport must be made accessible for the disabled, existing ones will require to be progressively modified or replaced to meet these requirements.

Accessibility also has a wider connotation. It includes making information and knowledge available to the disabled through eg suitably adapted ICT means, as well as alerting them to events and situations by the use of  audio, visual and other sensory means.

Promoting the employability of disabled persons brings them into the mainstream of the economy.

It enables them to live decent and productive lives. Given access to education, skills and on-the-job training and the necessary resources alongside an enabling policy environment and positive attitudes, the experience of several countries is that women and men with disabilities can be successful in the workplace and marketplace as workers, entrepreneurs and managers. In some instances their performance has even exceeded that of their non-disabled counterparts.

Malaysia’s ratification of this convention, in particular the enforcement and implementation of related laws, policies and practices will truly contribute towards the goals of lMalaysia by enabling the disabled to live as useful and loyal citizens.

Rueben Dudley
Petaling Jaya