Hello,
Today, I am pleased to share some of my story and talk about how we can build support for people with disabilities to enable their meaningful participation in society, including the job market. This is a story of overcoming social barriers, embracing acceptance, cultivating self-love, and relentlessly pursuing opportunities. I am a 27-year-old woman with an intellectual disability, and it is an honor to speak to you today not only as a current recipient of Human Rights Watch’s Malka Bristo Fellowship, but also as a disability rights advocate with lived experience.
First, let us be clear: disability is not a disease. We are valuable individuals with different capabilities, capable of making decisions and making positive contributions to our communities. However, we face numerous social and attitudinal barriers that limit our everyday participation and engagement.
When I was four, my parents were told I couldn’t attend a bilingual school because I couldn’t speak one language, let alone two, and when I was 11, I was told I wouldn’t graduate from high school. While my parents focused on my shortcomings, my family and supporters recognized and nurtured my strengths.
Today, I have successfully completed my education, speak both English and Spanish fluently, am employed with the support I need to excel, and am constantly learning how to advocate for disability rights. Time has proven those who doubted me out of ableism wrong; it has proven that people with disabilities can thrive just like everyone else, with determined support to include us in society.
But my story is not the only one I want to share with you today. There are exemplary practices that societies can adopt to ensure disability-friendly workplaces. For example, the Iraqi government has enacted laws mandating employment quotas for people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. Unfortunately, Human Rights Watch research in Iraq has revealed that the government is not living up to these obligations, a common problem in many countries.
General Comment 8 of the CRPD Committee recognises that employment quotas are one of the possible ways to promote the employment of people with disabilities. Such quotas should be a positive measure to integrate historically marginalised groups into the workforce and enable them to exercise their rights. However, effective implementation and follow-up are essential and are currently lacking in Iraq.
Quotas alone are often insufficient to eliminate or address the employment barriers faced by disabled people and, where they are adopted, they should be implemented in conjunction with the implementation of other anti-discrimination and equality laws to avoid symbolic discrimination and segregation of disabled people in the workplace.
Despite these challenges, there is hope. Muwafaq Al Khafaji, head of the Iraqi Alliance of Disabled Organizations (IADO), runs workshops to educate employers about the employment rights of people with disabilities and encourage them to hire them accordingly. After one such workshop, Mohammed Ali Al Mayahi, CEO of Bab Al Agha Bakery in Baghdad, hired five deaf people. Inspired by their work, he expanded the effort and now employs nearly 30 deaf people and encourages other companies to do the same.
In many countries, including Iraq and my home country, Colombia, significant barriers remain to social inclusion for people with disabilities. But with the right programs from both the public and private sectors, improvements can be made. In Colombia, for example, the Adult Life Transition Education Program (OAT), run by the NGO COOPMENTE in partnership with the University of Rosario, teaches young people with disabilities basic life skills and rights and fosters a supportive community and a sense of belonging.
These programs have enabled me to assert my rights, have had a unique educational experience, and have fully integrated into society. I now manage my own finances, live independently, make my own decisions, and am part of a support network I can rely on when I need it.
Both the employment programme in Iraq and the COOPMENTE family network in Colombia show that with real opportunities, the right support and belief in their capabilities, people with disabilities can overcome obstacles, meet high expectations and contribute greatly to society.
We live in a world that often preaches equality and inclusion, which should mean that every human being, with or without a disability, deserves respect and dignity, equal access to education, meaningful employment opportunities, and the ability to live independently and with dignity.
As a Malka Bristo Fellow, I am preparing myself to be a more active advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. My goal is to raise awareness of our rights in governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and society at large. To live dignified, independent, and autonomous lives, we need empowerment, support networks, and opportunities for true inclusion.
Today, I invite you to actively contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will enable us to claim our rights, participate effectively in society, and continue to strive for a more inclusive world.
With the above points in mind, I would like to make the following suggestions:
1. About inclusive education
We need to implement quality inclusive education systems that are adapted to the individual needs of students with disabilities at all levels, including pre-primary, secondary and tertiary education. We need to expand access to tertiary education for young people with disabilities, so that they can develop professionally and access suitable jobs according to their interests and capabilities.
2. Jobs for All:
Employment is not only a matter of fairness, but also a fundamental right that gives us the opportunity to use our skills and talents and contribute positively as a workforce in society. Most importantly, it is a means to our independence and autonomous life. Countries should regularly collect statistics on the number and employment rate of people with disabilities. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms should be established to ensure that the working conditions and wages of people with disabilities are on par with other employees. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms should be established for government ministries to regularly report on the achievement of employment quotas that may be set for people with disabilities. Governments should further increase the possibility of promoting formal, appropriate employment with support systems for people with disabilities.
Let us work together to build a world where all people in all their diversity are accepted. We, like everyone else, deserve the opportunity to live fulfilling and independent lives, to be part of society and to achieve our dreams. Supporting people with disabilities on this journey is essential, as they are a fundamental pillar of our society.
thank you very much!
Mariana Lozano
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author may be out of date and has been edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take any organizational stance or position and all views, positions and conclusions expressed here are solely those of the authors. Read the full article here.
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