International Day of Persons with Disabilities: still much more to do

" The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, established in 1992, is an opportunity to remind that people with disabilities still do not enjoy their rights nor full citizenship and dignified life," said Vice-President of Ibsar Association Basma Soussi. Notwithstanding the current legal arsenal, Soussi Froday told TAP on the sidelines of a ceremony at the City of Culture, people with disabilities do not enjoy the right to education, health, transport and employment. "There is need to review curricula and make sure people with disabilities get education, thus paving the way for them to gain access to employment," she added. People with disabilities need to get involved in decision-making in a bid to help them participate in public and political life. Any change in mindset is only possible through law enforcement, in addition to making an adequate infrastructure available. Arnaud Peral, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tunisia, said there is still a way to do in Tunisia and in the world in s pite of the existing legal framework. "The UN devised a strategy in 2018 to mainstream rights of people with disabilities in all its approaches and programmes across the globe but there is still much more to do, "the official told TAP. "The culture of inclusion and accessibility has not yet gained foothold in our practices, decisions, public policies and budgets," the UN official said. People with disabilities need to have access to employment, a fundamental right, he added. Actually, the best way to speed up change is to work with people with disabilities. The UN system in Tunisia is working in concert with all institutional bodies and civil society organisations to promote the rights of this group. Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Tunis Office Rym Fayala said International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an opportunity to remind of the importance of securing fair access to fundamental rights, non-discrimination and full participation. The event was organised in partnership wi th the UNFPA, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and in close collaboration with IBSAR and the Tunisian Organisation for the Defence of Rights of People with Disabilities (French: OTDDPH) on the theme " Strengthening Rights of Poeple with Disabilities."