Convention of Rights 38: Postscript, advocacy

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD) was signed and ratified by Uganda in 2008. It is important for ensuring human rights are observed. It is time the people of Uganda held their political representatives responsible for their obligations to this important international agreement (see Uganda: Why We Need to Hold Our Leaders Accountable).

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) suffer human rights abuse despite the existence of a legal and political framework of support. The 2016 National Union of Disabled People Uganda (NUDIPU) report UN challenges Uganda government on disability rights details the comments of Dr Uchenma Emelonye, a Country Representative of the United Nations office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Uganda. The report says:

The UN is concerned that although Uganda has very sound legal frameworks, their implementation remains a huge challenge. This is however not peculiar to Uganda, but nearly all African countries experience the same scenario.

“There are still challenges in the enjoyment of rights of PWDs in Uganda. The laws exist but implementation is still challenging,” Dr Emelonye said, adding that majority of PWDs in Uganda continue to suffer discrimination, exclusion, sexual violence against women and children, and experience serious challenges while accessing justice.

That most African countries don't honour their obligations is no defense. Uganda has some of the most progressive disability rights legislation in Africa and should continue leading the way. 

Why are disability rights important? Everyone is entitled to their human rights. Disability rights are human rights. The workbook Human Rights: Yes! describes human rights as:

Universal: Human rights apply to every person in the world, regardless of their race, colour, sex, ethnic or social origin, religion, language, nationality, age, sexual orientation, disability, or other status. They apply equally and without discrimination to each and every person. The only requirement for having human rights is to be human.

Inherent: Human rights are a natural part of who you are. The text of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begins: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

Inalienable: Human rights automatically belong to each human being. They do not need to be given to persons by their government or any other authority, nor can they be taken away. Nobody can tell you that you do not have these rights. Even if your rights are violated or you are prevented from claiming your human rights, you are still entitled to these rights.

These concepts are the foundation of the CRPD which serves to underline the human rights of PWDs. The rights in the CRPD are indivisible - all the rights must be taken together; interdependent - they can only be realized if they are all realized; and interrelated - they all effect each other. The workbook Human Rights: Yes! continues:

In simple terms, human rights all work together and we need them all. For example, a person’s ability to exercise the right to vote can be affected by the rights to education, freedom of opinion and information, or even an adequate standard of living. A government cannot pick and choose which rights it will uphold for the persons who live in that country. Each right is necessary and affects the others.

The message of the CRPD is clear, everyone is entitled to their human rights. Everyone can demand their human rights be protected, fulfilled and respected. 

When you advocate for human rights and use the human rights framework to support your work no one can say you are asking for special treatment or something you don't deserve. Everyone has a role to play to ensure the CRPD is implemented fully. The workbook Human Rights: Yes! continues:

The existence of human rights law does not make human rights a reality in people’s lives. Positive attitudes and good intentions are not enough either. Without individual efforts, a firm social and cultural commitment reinforced by group action, and strong implementation and enforcement by governments, human rights cannot be guaranteed.

Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Persons with Disabilities Advocacy in Africa.
IRI (International Republican Institute) has worked to advance the participation of persons with disabilities in Uganda for many years, initially focusing on supporting Ugandan civil society organizations to advocate for the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006. This advocacy in regions such as Iganga, Gulu, Masindi and Luwero, resulted in the construction of ramps to government buildings and schools, the provision of specialized health services at local hospitals, and increases in local budget allocations for services for disabled persons.

There is a great deal of work to be done and a need for advocacy. The report UN challenges Uganda government on disability rights concludes:

The CRPD committee therefore, recommends that Ugandan government reviews of the laws related to disability, establishes mechanisms of consulting PWDs and their organisations on budget allocations, incorporates the concept of reasonable accommodation in the legal systems, establishes measures to tackle discrimination against women with disabilities, increases awareness on the rights and dignity of PWDs, and raises awareness among members of parliament, executive and judiciary with the regard to the Convention on the rights of PWDs and ensure their support in implementation of the concluding observations in consultation with organisations of PWDs. 

(Note: These concluding observations can be found in the 2016 report the Committee on the Rights of PWDs: Concluding observations on the initial report of Uganda).

The CRPD provides a map for the future, a future where everyone is freely granted their rights. Human rights should not have to be requested, they are everyone's right. Under the terms of the CRPD the Ugandan government is accountable for implementing the rights in the Convention. It is time for the rights of PWDs to be acknowledged.