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Author: Jen McEachen – Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility – CRHNet
Theme: Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress.
United Nations objectives for this year focus on poverty eradication, promotion of full and equal access to employment and social integration. Within a disaster risk reduction (DRR) perspective, ensuring people with disabilities (PWDs) are able to mitigate and prepare through detailed planning, collaboration and community connections will reduce the stress during and after a disaster.
Many PWDs, due to financial constraints, do not have the resources or ability to mitigate or prepare for emergencies. Many municipalities or communities invest using a “one-size-fit-all” system to secure funding sources allocated for response and recovery efforts. Inviting PWDs can be valuable to participate in discussion- and operations-based exercises to ensure Emergency Support Service (ESS) teams provide individualized services based on the individuals’ needs. What other gaps do you foresee for individuals with mental, social, physical and sensory disabilities would need to be self-sustainable during and after a disaster? How can Disaster Risk Reduction professionals develop preparedness / community events that is inclusive of PWDs?
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) adopted a treaty in 2006 that operates on the principles that promote individuals with disabilities with equal rights and members of society as everyone else and are not subjected to charity. International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD) was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly and has been held on December 3rd on an annual basis.
Websites with further information about the observance of IDPWD:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities: https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-persons-disabilities