President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has declared July 17-23 of each year as National Disability Rights Week.
The move is part of the Philippine government’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
The two-page Proclamation No. 597, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, states that President Marcos has directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to lead, coordinate and oversee the National Disability Rights Week.
The NCDA has also been mandated to identify programs, activities and projects for the celebration.
All government departments and institutions, including government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities and junior colleges, are directed to observe National Disability Rights Week.
Additionally, all local governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector are encouraged to participate in the same event.
Marcos said the Philippines was committed to the objectives of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities.”
The President also stressed the need to amend Proclamations No. 1870 and 361 to be consistent with the objectives of the UNCPRD and to promote a rights-based approach during the National Disability Rights Week.
Proclamation No. 1870 (s. 1979) declared the third week of July as National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, while Proclamation No. 361 (s. 2000) proclaimed July 23 as the culmination of NDPR Week in honor of the birth anniversary of the Venerable Paralytic Apolinario Mabini. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA Integrated News