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GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO HONOUR 10% EMPLOYMENT STAKE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The 15th session of the conference of the state parties to the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities is underway at the United Nations in New York, USA, with Zambia committing to empowering persons with disabilities in a well coordinated developmental agenda.
Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Honourable Doreen Mwamba has reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to the advancement of the rights of persons living with disabilities through meaningful implementation of the convention on the rights of person living with disabilities.
She told the conference that Zambia has made strides towards promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, notable among them, their inclusion through a robust approach using the community base inclusive model.
“With support from partners, government has embarked on the process of training disability focal point persons in community based inclusive development to ensure the effective mainstreaming of disability in action plans and programming”, on Mwamba disclosed.
She further assured that government will apply the quota system of employing ten percent of the total number of recruitment to person with disabilities while making efforts to encourage entrepreneurship, formation of cooperatives and skills development.
Through the mental health services act number 6 of 2019, the Minister said government will continue promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms of mental health users.
“The act has inter alia’ abolished involuntary admission and treatment of mental health users to mental health institutions and focus on ensuring legal capacity an independent living for mental health users” Hon Mwamba further said.
And Ms Mwamba said concerning children with disabilities, government is implementing the children families’ programme which seeks to eliminate discriminations and seclusion of children with disabilities.
“To enable participation of youths with disabilities in the developmental agenda, President Hakainde Hichilema recently appointed youths with disabilities to key national institutions such as boards and public service commissions ” she said.
Ms Mwamba further told the conference that government is implementing various social protection programmes aimed at curbing in order to empower women with disabilities through livelihood support and protection of the rights as well.
She said despite the strides made so far, government will endeavour to put in place measures that will promote inclusive development to ensure that the country remains in tandem with Zambia’s vision 2030 and the SDG’s, anchored on the principle of “leaving no one behind”.
