Reflection on Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Workshop

20th to 23rd of August 2018 was an exciting week, I participated in a workshop for indigenous persons with disabilities in Bomet Kenya as a co facilitator. The workshop was organized by the Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network (IPWDN), the Narok South Disability Network and International Disability Alliance (IDA).

The aim of the workshop was to impact knowledge on Indigenous leaders with disabilities in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people (UNDRIP) and Agenda 2030.

My Reflection:

Indigenous persons with disabilities being at the grass root level of the community face multidimensional barriers and sharp effects are on children and women with disabilities from these communities. Some of the barriers include:

1. Stigma and discrimination
2. Negative cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
3. Access to education
4. Access to health
5. Not being counted during census due to nomadic life
6. Women with disabilities in the communities being compared to women without disabilities
7. Lack of national registration: like national identity card

Constitution of Kenya, Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Declaration on the Rights of persons with disabilities offer a clear legal framework that can support indigenous persons with disabilities in enjoying their rights on equal basis with others. Moreover, people from this communities need more developmental support from the government and civil society organizations without destroying or diluting their cultural identity.

Cheers!