Somali government has trying to draft national plan of action to assist people with disabilities and survivors of explosive hazards.
Representative from the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD), Somali Explosive Management (SEMA) and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) have this past week met in Mogadishu for two two-day workshop.
The workshop builds on countrywide consultations led by SEMA and the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development for the last two months in the federal member states to collect views of various stakeholders as part of the input into the National Action Plan for disabilities. Previous consultation workshops were held in Baidoa, Garowe, Dhusamareb and Jowhar.
The National Plan for Disabilities and Victim Assistance represents an important initial step in Somalia’s progress towards ensuring that Somalis with disabilities, including survivors of mines/ERW and other explosive hazards are able to fully realize their human rights.
Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, Ms. Deqa Yasin said that coming up with a National Action Plan was a step in the right direction and was testimony to the progress Somalia has made in taking the disability agenda forward.
The National Plan for Disabilities and Victim Assistance represents an important initial step in Somalia’s progress towards ensuring that Somalis with disabilities, including survivors of mines/ERW and other explosive hazards are able to fully realize their human rights.
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has signalled its deep commitment by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) in May 2019 and is in the process of developing the policy frameworks and institutional structures through which it will work to support, promote, and ensure the rights of Somali people with disabilities.
Bile Ismail Diriye, Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development of the Federal Government of Somalia, who presided over the opening day of the workshop reiterated the government’s commitment to providing support and tailored services to meet the needs of the disabled members of the population.
“These consultations are of paramount importance and are a chance for the disabled members of our community to have their input included in the strategy that will define their needs and rights,” Bile said.
