Somalia’s Federal Cabinet has unanimously approved the rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, which provides a comprehensive legal protection for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
This Act allows provisions for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against PWDs towards equalization of opportunities and for related matters.
“The intention and primary objective of this policy is to safeguard the rights of the Disabled people, and their care. This is a task in which the ministry has taken a personal responsibility in its planning and preparation,’’ said Somalia’s Minister of Labour, Abdiweli Mudey.
The Bill provides that the law ensures that all organs, agencies of Government and all people respect, uphold and promote the fundamental and other human rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities.
It also provides for non-discrimination against persons with disabilities on grounds of their disabilities.
Chairing the weekly-cabinet meeting in the absence of the Prime Minister, Mohamed Omar Arte, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the government’s main concern is improving the living standards of citizens, providing the services they need, and rationalizing relief and ensuring it reaches those who need it.
“We should render the same opportunity to those who are disabled in parallel with those who are not when it comes to recruiting workers both in the private and the public entities” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
More than two decades of conflict, inadequate health services and discrimination have left people with disabilities in Somalia at risk of forced marriage, violence, rape and repeated forced evictions, Amnesty International said in a report released earlier this year.
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Somalia Cabinet Approves Persons with Disabilities Bill
Published: October 9, 2015
