Respect our rights - persons with disability
Oct 18, 2007
Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) have cautioned people who do not respect their rights to desist from the archaic conduct or risk facing the law.
By Frank Mugabi
Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) have cautioned people who do not respect their rights to desist from the archaic conduct or risk facing the law.
The warning was sounded by the chairperson of the Uganda National Association of the Blind, Frances Candiru, while launching the braille version of the Disability Act, at the celebrations to mark the World White Cane/Sight Day in Arua town on Monday.
Candiru said a printed format of the Act was commissioned last year but a braille version of it had been produced to enable visually impaired persons utilise it.
The Act is a document that contains sections that PWDs can use to sue people who deliberately disregard their rights.
Candiru said a taxi driver who denied a disabled person transport would be charged according to the Act.
“We have been advocating verbally for a long time. Now we have a tool to crack on people who commit crimes against people with disability. This includes parents who do not take their disabled children to school,†Candiru asserted.
Deprivation of employment, health, education and access to public places are some of the acts that could be punishable under the law.
Candiru further called on the Government to step up the campaign to enlighten motorists and other road users on the need to respect White Cane users, adding that blind persons were increasingly getting involved in road accidents due to drivers’ and riders’ recklessness.
The state minister for transport, Simon Ejua, who presided over the function, promised to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are respected.
Persons with Disabilities (PWD’s) have cautioned people who do not respect their rights to desist from the archaic conduct or risk facing the law.
The warning was sounded by the chairperson of the Uganda National Association of the Blind, Frances Candiru, while launching the braille version of the Disability Act, at the celebrations to mark the World White Cane/Sight Day in Arua town on Monday.
Candiru said a printed format of the Act was commissioned last year but a braille version of it had been produced to enable visually impaired persons utilise it.
The Act is a document that contains sections that PWDs can use to sue people who deliberately disregard their rights.
Candiru said a taxi driver who denied a disabled person transport would be charged according to the Act.
“We have been advocating verbally for a long time. Now we have a tool to crack on people who commit crimes against people with disability. This includes parents who do not take their disabled children to school,†Candiru asserted.
Deprivation of employment, health, education and access to public places are some of the acts that could be punishable under the law.
Candiru further called on the Government to step up the campaign to enlighten motorists and other road users on the need to respect White Cane users, adding that blind persons were increasingly getting involved in road accidents due to drivers’ and riders’ recklessness.
The state minister for transport, Simon Ejua, who presided over the function, promised to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are respected.