A Conference Discussing the Obstacles Preventing the Somaliland Government from Implementing the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Protecting the rights of people with disabilities depends on the establishment of a committee to protect the rights of people with disabilities.”
Hargeisa (Hayaantribune): A conference to analyze the obstacles preventing the Somaliland government from implementing the National Disability Commission was held today at the office of the national organization, AWVO Al-kownin Women Voluntary Organization, in Hargeisa.
The meeting, which was attended by scholars including people with disabilities, legal experts, and civil society organizations in Somaliland, discussed the rights of people with disabilities, as well as the importance of implementing the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the challenges facing people with disabilities.
After extensive discussion and analysis, the participants of the meeting suggested that the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family – MESAF be consulted to reinstate the legal project establishing a committee to protect the rights of people with disabilities in Somaliland, which was reportedly recently abolished by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Somaliland Disabled People’s Federation (SNDF).
It was also proposed at the meeting that if the Ministry refuses to return it and enact the draft law, the following steps will be taken:
1. That a petition signed by 5,000 citizens, in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Somaliland, be submitted to the Somaliland House of Representatives.
2. In accordance with the Constitution, 11 members of the Somaliland House of Representatives should be convinced to submit the draft law establishing and implementing the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the House of Representatives so that they can formulate and implement the Law on the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Somaliland.
The experts who attended the conference recommended that “ensuring the rights of people with disabilities depends on the establishment of a committee to protect the rights of people with disabilities,” they said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that a committee of 10 scholars would be appointed to follow up on the points raised at the meeting.
