Africa-Press – Botswana. Government has been applauded for ratifying the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Speaking at the annual Abilities Expo in Gaborone recently, founding director of the expo, Ms Rowena Koloi however said service providers needed to be capacitated, and existing policies re-aligned with UNCRPD protocols. She said the convention bound countries to ensure that PWDs received equal opportunities and existed with others on equal basis.
UNFPA representative for the disabled, Ms Tsaone Mosweu said despite some efforts by government to assist PWDs they still faced challenges of unemployment, inclusiveness and economic empowerment.
Ms Mosweu said there was shortage of resources to cater for PWDs to better their lives especially in the education sector.
She said few PWDs made it after high school and or got better paying jobs to sustain a dignified lives.
A participant, Mr Thabo Baseki called on Batswana to respect the rights of PWDs. He said people with disabilities faced barriers on a daily basis regarding inaccessible physical environments, lack of appropriate assistive technology as well as face negative attitudes.
He pointed out that PWDs, often faced barriers of stereotypes, adding that certain attitudes and perceptions inhibited people with disabilities from pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
He said most pervasive negative attitudes involved focusing on persons’ limitations rather than on their abilities. He asked that they be treated as smart, talented, productive individuals who could contribute to the workforce as anyone else.
“People have low expectations of us and most people judge us less worthy because of irrelevant characteristic,” he said.
Among other challenges PWDs spoke of was lack of employment opportunities,. They said most ended up not being able to access services and in turn, lived in poverty yet they had the means and capability.
Among other barriers they cited attitude barriers, physical, policy, communication and social barriers, and therefore urged for inclusion of PWDs.
For his part, initiator of Botswana Synpowerment Programme, from Japan, Mr Tengyo Kura said it was important to stop prejudice and stigma towards PWDs.
He said PWDs were creative people by nature and therefore encouraged them to find their roots in arts.
He said arts communicated freely and openly as well as opened horizons.
He said art had a role in fostering entrepreneurship, and could be pivotal to the success of many young PWDs.
The Abilities Expo held under the theme: Adapt, Improvise, Overcome, was intended to support and give platform to engage in dialogue and conversations addressing issues affecting PWDs.
The event was also aimed at empowering young people with disabilities to live beyond their disabilities through different networks availed during the event.
The theme also sought to challenge young people with disabilities to break all barriers that continue to hinder them from participating in the society.
The 2023 expo gave 30 PWDs a platform to showcase their products ranging from textiles, beads weaving, bakery, as well as their skill and talents, in music, arts and entrepreneurship.
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