PHL urges protection for persons with disabilities

A United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) committee has adopted a resolution co-sponsored by the Philippines calling for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWD). The resolution was adopted by consensus by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) and will soon be taken up by the UNGA, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan reported in a release posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The resolution, jointly initiated by the Philippines and Tanzania, was titled “Realizing the Millennium Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities Towards 2015 and Beyond". During the UNDA panel discussion on December 3, which was also the International Day for PWDs, the Philippines pushed for the adoption of national, bilateral and multilateral policies and programs to promote and protect the rights and welfare of PWDs. "The Philippines has expressed concern on previous occasions that while the Member States of the United Nations strive to achieve the 2015 targets of their commitments in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), efforts and strategies to that end may not effectively filter down to persons with disabilities," Cabactulan said. According to Cabactulan, the Philippines has stressed the importance of improving the plight of PWDs as an integral part in the MDG, and the need for efforts to mainstream the issue of PWDs in the MDG strategies and mechanisms. Among the salient points of the resolution are the following:

• Governments and UN bodies and agencies are called upon to include disability issues and PWDs in reviewing progress towards achieving the MDG, and to step up efforts to determine how PWDs benefit from MDG efforts.
• The resolution calls on governments to strengthen the collection and compilation of national and regional data about the situation of PWDs.
• The UN system is requested to provide available technical help, including assistance for capacity-building, and for collecting and compiling national and regional data and statistics.
• The Secretary-General is requested to monitor the resolution’s implementation, towards convening a high-level meeting on ensuring that PWDs are included in all aspects of development efforts.

"The resolution, by emphasizing the need for governments and the international community to take concrete action to ensure that persons with disabilities fully participate in all aspects of society and development efforts, takes the promise made by governments at the MDG summit a step closer to our vision of improving the lives of persons with disabilities," Cabactulan explained. He added the Philippine government is taking steps to ensure that national policies and programs are inclusive and accessible to all, and that the needs of PWDs are taken into consideration and integrated in all aspects of social, political and economic development efforts. Last year, the country enacted Republic Act 10070 or "An Act Establishing an Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation of Programs and Services for Persons with disabilities in Every Province, City and Municipality, amending Republic Act No. 7277, Otherwise Known as the ‘Magna Carta for disabled Persons’, As Amended, and for Other Purposes". Under the law, national agencies and local government units are mandated to implement policies, plans and programs for the promotion of the welfare of persons with disabilities. National and local agencies are asked to enter into joint ventures with organizations of PWDs to explore livelihood opportunities and other undertakings to enhance the health, physical fitness and the economic and social well beings of PWDs. "National efforts, however, to be truly effective, must be complemented by regional and international efforts and we cannot overemphasize the importance of disability inclusive development cooperation within the framework of bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives," Cabactulan stressed.—JV, GMANews.TV