South Africa has strong policies and a substantial legal framework on disability such as the Constitution, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Real progress depends on turning commitments into action and ensuring participation, accessibility and equal opportunity across every sector of society. This will not happen if we work in silos. Government, civil society, the private sector and communities must move together with shared purpose and accountability. Disability inclusion demands coordination, not fragmentation.

The Commission is concerned that South Africa does not have a comprehensive legal framework for persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities continue to be systematically discriminated. Our monitoring work and complaints trends have revealed that persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination in the country in the form of stigma, lack of disability accessibility tools such as ramps, sign language interpretation, lack of wheelchairs and translation of materials to brail. As a result, the Commission has prioritised the rights of persons with disabilities to develop mechanisms to create awareness, lobby, empower and protect their rights. 

The South African Human Rights Commission has taken steps to strengthen oversight and participation by establishing a Section 11 Disability Committee in terms of SAHRC Act 40 of 2013. This committee brings together representative voices from the disability sector and serves as a mechanism to guide, monitor and advance the realisation of rights. In terms of the Un Convention CRPD the Commission is required to set up an Independent Monitoring Mechanism. It is an imperative in compliance with the UN Convention on CRPD. The Commission has developed concept note which is being considered by the full cohort of commissioners. The Commission stands ready to contribute to the national effort. It is our hope that the necessary funding is secured so this mechanism can operate effectively and carry out its mandate.

On this day we affirm that disability inclusion is not an act of goodwill but a constitutional imperative. It is a measure of the kind of society we aspire to be. We must build a country where persons with disabilities are not spoken for but are active participants in policymaking, development and leadership.

We honour the contributions, resilience and knowledge of persons with disabilities, and we recommit to our mandate which is to protect, promote and monitor human rights and the culture thereof. In line with the Theme: True social progress requires that no one is left behind and that every barrier fallen becomes a step forward for all.

ENDS

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION