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!

Why Folic Acid?

The world is moving first in acknowledging the importance of health, this is evident through development agendas like goal three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Legal framework like article 25 of  the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

However, little in known about folic acid and its importance.

What is folic acid? Folic acid or folate is a section of vitamin B. Folic acid has a lot of health benefits, among them being prevention of neural tube defects to unborn babies like spina bifida (defect of the spina) and anencephaly (lack of parts of the brain).


8th to 14th of  January 2018 is world follic acid awareness week. This campaign is spear headed by the International Federation for Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF). Remember to read the link for more information, eat healthy, take follic acid, share widely to protect lives of unborn babies and to stay healthy.

Cheers!

Solidarity for People with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

This month has marked two important days: International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December and International Human Rights Day on 10th December. This year's theme of IDPD was "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all"  These two days have been a good platform to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Sustainable Development Goals.

Most human rights advocates dwell on social barriers that prevent inclusion of persons with disabilities forgetting medical barriers. As much as such efforts are good, they have worked towards depriving some basic rights to people who have disabilities. In order to achieve all rights that affect people with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and other disabilities, there is a need for an integrated developmental approach that blends both social and medical model towards addressing disability matters. This will ensure that no one is left behind.

It's time for human rights advocates to be in solidarity with people who have spina bifida, hydrocephalus and other disabilities that need medical attention.

cheers! 

My Highlights; High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals

From the 9th to the 20th of July 2017, I represented IF at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goal (These are broad development Goals that should be achieved by 2030 by leaving no one behind) in New York. My Participation was through the stakeholder group of persons with disabilities which had aim of ensuring that the UN member states report on the progress that they have made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals for People with Disabilities. 

 

Throughout the week, things that struck my mind were; groups that are at risk of being left behind include persons with disabilities, access to universal education and universal health is a treat that should be part of the poverty eradication plan.

 

Cheers Friends!

Disability Rights are Human Rights

People with disabilities have rights on equal basis with other people who do not have disabilities, however, most local and national law have failed to be specific and inclusive hence not protecting interest of people with disabilities.

United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) is specific on how rights of people with disabilities can be achieved while the Sustainable Development Goals has objectives and plans of leaving no one behind.

This is the reason why I received the fellowship International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IF) and International Disability Alliance (IDA), based on the two treaties with the aim of bridging the gap in disability rights.



The knowledge that I have gained so far has enabled me to train grass root Disabled People Organization on UNCRPD and SDG with the aim of achieving inclusion for people with disabilities in Kenya and Tanzania.


      

PS: The first picture was during a workshop training on UNCRPD in Kenya, Second picture was when I attended Committee on the rights on the rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva Switzerland while the third picture was during a workshop in Kilimanjaro region Tanzania.