05th July 2012 was celebrated as national day of People with disabilities in Pakistan.

05th July national day of people with disabilities of Pakistan	Election of DPI-chapter Sindh SDF Election
ONE DAY SEMINAR “IMPLEMENTATION ON CRPD” Organized By:        Sindh Disability Forum (SDF) Collaboration By:  HANDS                                  Nawabshah Disability Forum (NDF)

         
 

05^th JULY NATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OBSERVED IN SINDH

BY: Abid Lashari

Sindh Disability Forum (SDF) organized one day seminar “Implementation of CRPD” to mark 05^th July the national day of people with disabilities in Pakistan with collaboration of HANDS & Nawabshah Disability Forum (NDF), to commemorate the ratification of UNCRPD by Pakistan on dated 05^th July 2011. The election of Sindh Disability Forum (SDF/DPI chapter Sindh) also held during the end of the seminar.    

Mr. Tarique Hussain Solangi, representative of Deputy Commissioner Shaheed Benazir Abad was invited as chief guest, Mr. Murad Ali Jamali, District Officer Social Welfare, Shaheed Benazir Abad presided over the seminar. Mr. Ghullam Nabi Nizamani Secretary DPI-AP & Mr. Muhammad Moosa Jamali, District Manager HANDS Shaheed Benazir Abad participated as facilitators.

Mr. Nizamani presented power point presentation and told the importance of the day, he said Pakistan has ratified CRPD on 5^th July 2011, there was no National day before for Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan, the purpose of day was to remind Government each year for effective implementation of CRPD that Persons with Disabilities of Pakistan have own identity. He further informed about the CRPD, its articles and other related information to the CRPD for one and half hour. He told that Pakistan need to submit a report at UN in 2013.  He said that UNCRPD is first Human Rights treaty of 21^st Century, fastest signed, ratified and adopted treaty in the history of UN. At the end of his presentation he urged the Government of Pakistan to develop CRPD implementation mechanism, all mainstream civil society organizations should implement CRPD within their work, Government and civil society organizations should have focal point on disability & people with disabilities included in decision making process.

Mr. Abid Lashari welcomed to all participants & guests, he especially paid thanks to HANDS for their contribution to organizing such informative seminar at provincial level. He urged government to include and avail facilities of Persons with Disabilities. He said in all facilities for Persons with Disabilities should be barrier free and as per universal standards as described in 50 UNCRPD articles. He told that people with disabilities are living under poverty line; they have no access to quality education & health facilities. He further told that people with disabilities demand nothing but equal rights on basis of human rights standards. He said Sindh has played a vital role in disability movement in Pakistan. Sindh Disability Forum (SDF) is chapter of national network of DPOs of Pakistan (“PDPO/DPI Pakistan).  SDF has contributed at grass root, national, international forums to be voice of persons with disabilities in policy making, implementations of various orders of government. SDF also developed advocacy, awareness raising, organizing seminars & workshops. He said SDF has celebrated 05^th July as national day of people with disabilities of Pakistan which is historic event, this practice will remain continue in future as well. Sindh Disability Forum has developed links with INGOs & NGOs to convince them to pay their heed over disability subject. SDF has involved many INGOs/NGOs to do work on vulnerable group especially people with disabilities badly affected during flood 2011. SDF’s new body will keep continue its work with same partners, to develop equal & society for all in Sindh. He said currently SDF achieved many milestones and NDF is one of member of SDF announcing its all resources for the SDF activities in future, NDF office can be used as SDF office for ever and doors of NDF will remain open for SDF activities.      

Mr. Muhammad Moosa Jamali District Manager HANDS showed a short video of hands activities on disability and shared that that HANDS has supported the privileged community as elderly people, women, children & Persons with Disabilities. HANDS has initiated many programmes on disability especially in Rehri Goath Karachi with support of PPAF. HANDS has developed cooperation with other NGOs to observe international day of people with disabilities. HANDS is committed to enhance cooperation with disabled people’s organizations in Sindh. He further said that disability is natural phenomena; it must be accepted by the society. They have same rights as others have. Why people maltreat with Persons with Disabilities? This practice may lead Persons with Disabilities in disappointment.

Asad Memon office superintendent DC office said that he works with non-profit organizations before joining government job but he is committed to work with this sector too. He said that I am impressed from presentation of Mr. Nizamani and I understood that his main emphasis was on implementation process. He said for implementation there are two strategies one is making effective correspondence with governmental organizations for implementation and 2^nd strategy is as back up like this type of seminar, workshops and agitations. In gender movement of Pakistan we took one issue the participation of women in parliament and we succeed, for Persons with Disabilities main problem is I accessible transport system, if Persons with Disabilities focus on one issue of accessible transport, should be taken out then u will see lot of successes, at the end he said he said my services are available for community with disability.   

Mr. Nabi Bux Shar newly elected President Sindh Disability Forum (SDF) informed the purpose of establishment of SDF & historic development. He said that SDF came into existence in 2005 to develop collation among DPOs of Sindh at national level. SDF has more than 20 member organizations. SDF is only representative umbrella network of DPOs of Sindh. SDF is well recognized in the world. SDF is also provincial chapter of national network (PDPO/DPI Pakistan). This network’s success may be mapped out to see other provincial network developed on same patterns like PDF, BDF, FDF etc.  Mr. Shar said SDF develops capacity of member organization to make them able to compete in development sector.

Mr. Tarique Hussain Solangi said that disability is not inability; NDF mostly organizes programs which are very informative & attractive. He congratulated to all Persons with Disabilities for their national day. He said government will support, SDF & NDF maintain activities in District Shaheed Benazir Abad.

Mr. Murad Ali Jamali appreciated the efforts of NDF and he recently NDF has managed a big programs of one window operation for registration of Persons with Disabilities. He further stated that people with disabilities have potential to meet all challenges. He gave example of services of NDF for its vital role from local to international disability movement. Mr. Jamali assured his possible support for future initiatives of SDF & NDF. He suggested that if SDF takes initiative he can write a letter to high ups that SDF should be recognized only representative of DPOs in Sindh.

SDF Election/DPI chapter Sindh  

Mr. Murad Ali Jamali District Officer Social Welfare Benazir Abad & Mr. Muhammad Moosa Jamali District Manager, HANDS conducted the election of Sindh Disability Forum (SDF) on the request of present organizations from Sindh.

Both neutral officers conducted the election process. After the process of election Mr. Murad Ali Jamali District Officer Social Welfare Benazir Abad & Mr. Muhammad Moosa Jamali District Manager, HANDS both declared the result of election the following were elected as below. Mr. Nabi Bux Shar was elected as President, Mr. Ghullam Muhammad Sarki as Vice President, Mr. Shahnawaz Kandhro as General Secretary, Mr. Muneer Das Oad as Joint Secretary, Mr. Hafiz Naseer Ahmed Khuawar as Treasurer, Mr. Mumtaz Ali Mangi as Information Secretary, Ms. Anna Iqbal Bhatti as Office Secretary elected in newly body. Meanwhile two representatives each for national & International level were elected as Mr. Abid Lashari was elected as national representative of Sindh in DPI Pakistan & Mr. Ghullam Nabi Nizamani as International representative in DPI Pakistan from Sindh chapter. Few members raised some objections ad concerns during the process but after facilitation of both neutral representatives, all members agreed on the process unanimously.

Newly elected body showed commitment with disability movement with no compromise on rights of Persons with Disabilities. They also said they will negotiate with those friends who are not happy from this election, they are also their brothers and we will keep them in the movement.  Then members advised to newly executive committee of DPI Sindh chapter to prepare some recommendations as their new tasks.

RECOMENDATIONS  

Ø  To get translations of all international documents including CRPD in local Sindhi language.

Ø  To get disabled friendly transportation

To ensure 2% job quota in all public & private sector with whole & spirit.