Editorial»
Right to move
KATHMANDU, JUL 10 -
in the past, Nepal has made some figurative provisions to protect the rights of the disabled-tax exemptions, hiring quotas in civil service, equal opportunity for employment, and provision of educational training and medical treatment-but there is still a long way to go to ensure social justice for those living with disabilities. One important step in changing how society views the disabled is by providing them with physical environment that would allow them to live independently.
In Nepal, accessibility to physical infrastructure for people with disabilities is almost nonexistent-from government offices and public transportation to hospitals and schools; daily life for the disabled can be a constant, and public, challenge. These inequalities only highlight their disability to the wider public. An inaccessible infrastructure denies men, women and children with disabilities equal access to their communities and fails to acknowledge the skills, knowledge and potential of persons with disabilities by pushing them into further exclusion. Improving the physical infrastructure has value beyond the direct impact on the disabled. By removing obstacles for participating in social and economic life, it not only strengthens the disabled but also enhance poverty reduction of the whole community. But little has been done in this regard.
Three or four years ago, the government introduced building codes that required new construction to be disabled-friendly. But these regulations have been mostly ignored and unimplemented. Almost two years after signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the government finally took the last step to ratify the agreement last November. Ratification of this document represents a milestone for those fighting for disabled rights as it calls on the government not only to guarantee the legal rights of persons with disabilities, it also obligates the state to take appropriate measures to ensure equal access to transportation, information as well as facilities and services open to the public. Yet the impact of the international convention has yet to be seen. But there is some hope.
With the country still in transition, there is an opportunity to incorporate these values into the new government and constitution. And with immense investment being put into improving the infrastructure in Kathmandu in preparation for Nepal Tourism Year 2011, there couldn’t be a better opportunity to support the inclusion of disability rights in urban and transport infrastructure improvements. As projects are being implemented, it is important that the perspective of the disabled is not being forgotten. As new sidewalks are constructed, proper ramps must be included; otherwise those in wheelchairs are confined to the dangerous streets. As proposals to change the public transportation system crop up, whether it be more large buses or revival of the trolley, these vehicles should be equipped with low steps to accommodate those with mobility disabilities. As more streetlights are erected, the accompanying pedestrian lights should be equipped with audio cues for those with impaired sight. There are many practical, low-cost adjustments that can be made that have an immense impact on the quality of life of persons with disabilities. In this time of transition, the opportunity to easily make these changes should be taken.
Posted on: 2010-07-11 11:08
Headlines
Advertisements
