The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed across the globe, including Pakistan, to highlight issues of the physically and mentally challenged persons and sensitize public to their special needs.
Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind.
The day is observed every year to inculcate a sense of compassion among all human beings on Earth. Let’s take an in-depth review of the statistics of disabled persons in Pakistan and the steps taken by the government to protect their rights.
Disability Day 2020 Theme and Importance
The theme for 2020 is “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 World”.
According to the United Nations Organization, “Out of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80 percent live in developing countries. One in every five women is likely to experience disability in her life, while one in every ten children is a child with a disability. An estimated 46 percent of older people aged 60 years and over are people with disabilities.”
It is important to ensure that the barriers to their inclusion are eliminated and specially-abled people are empowered to fully participate in societal life, the community of persons with disabilities benefits. Therefore, accessibility is necessary to accomplish progress and a detriment to society as a whole.
Disabled persons in Pakistan
The statistics of such people in Pakistan are considered controversial because the census in Pakistan has never been given that importance. According to 5th Population and Housing Census conducted in 1998, the population of Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan to be 2.38 percent of the entire population. However, as per the 6th Population and Housing Census of 2017, the percentage has gone down to less than 0.48 percent.
The drastic decline in the population percentage has raised concerns in some circles. In this regard, Supreme Court of Pakistan said, “The court expressed its displeasure that Pakistan Bureau of Statistics continued citing various issues for not counting disabled persons after the census had already begun across the country.”
If it were not for the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s intervention, the disability question would not even be made part of the survey at a later stage. The Bureau itself accepted that census might not be thorough.
According to a report published by the British Council, 72 percent of Persons with Disabilities reported inaccessibility as a major barrier to access education, training & employment. Not only this, but Persons with Disabilities also faced issues during General Elections and could not exercise their right to vote because of the inaccessible polling station.
Bill for disabled persons
Pakistan passed a new disability law through a joint session of parliament, raising hopes that discrimination, especially in the workplace, against millions of Pakistanis could be curbed.
The new law covers areas like the political participation of persons living with disabilities, equity in education and employment, equality before the law, ease of access and mobility, and protection from violent, abusive, intolerant and discriminatory behavior.
There are still some gaps in the bill like the language of the act is gender blind. The definition of disability is outdated not aligned with the UN convention. The council did not mention the criteria of three persons living with disabilities to be part of the council as members. Some meaningful steps are needed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Disabled peoples amid pandemic
For others, having a disability does not by itself put them at higher risk of infection, but they are in danger due to discrimination and barriers to information, social services, health care, social inclusion, and education.
In a rapidly evolving pandemic, information is essential for people to make decisions about how to protect themselves and how to access necessities and services during quarantine and self-isolation.
To ensure that people with disabilities are not deprived of lifesaving information, communication strategies should include qualified sign language interpretation for televised announcements, websites that are accessible to people with different disabilities, and telephone-based services that have text capabilities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
