The Director of Human Rights at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Dr. Isaac Annan, has lamented the lack of effective cooperation between disability rights organizations and the Commission to Combat the Rights of People with Disabilities.
According to him, the situation has resulted in the silent abuse of people with disabilities.
“I can say on authority that CHRAJ does not receive adequate cooperation from groups of people with disabilities or civil society organizations to fight for the rights of people with disabilities,” he said.
Dr. Annan stated that very often people who fall victim to human rights abuses are those who are ignorant of the mechanisms available to redress or do not have the confidence to turn to CHRAJ for assistance. And in the case of people with disabilities, it would require the help of disability rights advocates to get support.
“Despite the existence of the legal and institutional regime, that is, the Disabled People Act, the National Council for People with Disabilities and the Mental Health Authority, and CSOs working for people with disabilities (PWDs) and mental health issues, there are insufficient awareness and awareness of human rights issues related to people with disabilities and people with intellectual disabilities, “he added.
Dr. Isaac Annan spoke on Friday December 18, 2020 when Ghana Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (Ghana Participation Program) held a media launch to announce its second call for proposals.
The program provides for grants totaling Gh 11 million to be given to groups of people with disabilities and organizations to promote disability rights.
The grant’s main objectives are to improve the well-being of people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, and to strengthen stigma and discrimination. Also generate research to inform policy and practice about disability and mental health.
Dr. Annan found that stigma and discrimination undermine the right to basic services such as health care, education, housing and livelihoods. which ultimately leads to social exclusion and unemployment of those affected.
He announced that “a mechanism is available at CHRAJ to deal with all forms of stigma and discrimination-related complaints and provide appropriate remedial action”.
He pledged the Commission’s readiness to work with civil society organizations to raise public awareness of the existence of the dispute settlement services within CHRAJ as a mechanism to combat stigma and discrimination. At the same time, it educates the public about the need to respect the rights of all, including the rights of people with disabilities.
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