MINAS POs Press Government to ratify UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Madame Itoe Beryl Ekombe, Secretary General in Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) has reechoed government’s resolve to promote the social inclusion policy for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). This is evident in the enactment of law No. 2010/002 of April 13, 2010, which advocates for the promotion and protection of persons with disabilities in a holistic manner.
She was speaking at a two-day annual session of the National Committee for the Reinsertion and Socio-economic Integration of Persons with Disabilities (CONRHA), at the CBC Health Services’ Resource Center Mvan, Yaounde.
The session’s theme was “Strengthening the legal basis of protection and promotion of persons with disabilities: a multi-scale challenge for a more inclusive Cameroon in the context of COVID-19 pandemic”.
Partner Organizations of MINAS including the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services used the event to urge government to ratify the United Nation’s Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Stakeholders from Civil Society Organizations, inter-Sectorial Consultative Bodies, and Partner Institutions responsible for coordinating efforts made by government authorities, civil society organizations and other private persons for the benefit of persons with disabilities gathered to consolidate and validate drafts of specific texts developed and pre-validated by specialized commissions as well as take stock of the disability approach in programs and projects of sector members of CONRHA.
The members also reviewed specific regulatory texts and advocacy for the ratification of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of persons with Disabilities, which was the strong resolution of the last 2020 session of CONRHA.
The session brought together 49 National Stakeholders for two days who developed, evaluated and presented a comprehensive policy for persons with disabilities. They also made suggestions on measures likely to promote full participation of PwDs in economic, cultural and social development action.
According Mrs. Agho Glory, Program Manager of the Empowerment and Disability Inclusive Development Program, the CBC Health Services has been working together with MINAS to ensure that all other sectors in Cameroon put in place the provisions of the 2010 law on the rights of PwDs.
Addressing the committee Mr. Yongwa Zaccs, Administrator of the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital Yaoundé on the behest of Director Health Services thanked the Ministry of Social Affairs for the fruitful collaboration with the CBC Health Services in fostering the rights of PwDs in Cameroon.
“This collaboration has enabled the CBC Health Services to make valuable contributions in the social change of the lives of PwDs,” he said.
It is worth noting that the CBC Health Services has been a key implementer of services for persons with disabilities since the 1950s and currently support the education, healthcare, social and livelihood opportunities for children, youths and adults with disabilities in 9 out of the 10 regions of Cameroon.
These strides made by the CBC Health Services were greatly appreciated during this session with hopes that these efforts will come to fruition when the Government finally ratifies the CRPD.