80% of Gozitan respondents felt that the rights of persons with disability in Malta and Gozo are well respected, according to a survey commissioned by the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) earlier this year.
This was announced by the Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia during a national conference organised by the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability in Gozo.
She also said that currently almost 600 Gozitans with disability in the world of work, which means an increase of 7% over the past six months.
The study also revealed that 85% of Gozitans believe that the CRPD is very effective in its interventions in favour of persons with disabilities and their families, while 78% believe that persons with disabilities face a particular reality in Gozo when compared to Malta.
Minister Julia Farrugia stressed the importance of the country continuing to invest in more resources for Gozitans. “This survey confirms how important it is that we continue to work to address the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Gozo, particularly in the areas of employment, accessibility and education. We are committed to strengthening the infrastructure and services for Gozo in order to help everyone live a more independent and dignified life.”
“Our goal is for every person with a disability to feel that their rights are recognised and respected, both in Gozo and in Malta. This is why in the near future, the Voice For Inclusion organisation will also start operating in the Ghajnsielem hub, as well as Gozitan persons with disabilities will start having representation on two Government boards; the ENGAGE board which makes decisions in relation to the disability sector and the consultative committee on autism,” concluded the Minister.
Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rhoda Garland spoke about how the CRPD is well aware of the specific challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Gozo. “We feel that all policies and services for persons with disabilities in Gozo should directly include Gozitan persons with disabilities. It is precisely in this context that the United Nations motto “Nothing About Us Without Us” becomes more relevant for Gozo,” concluded Ms. Garland.
The survey revealed that when asked what they thought were the most pressing issues in the disability sector in our country, Gozitan participants explained that: increasing public perception (90%), employment (85%), abuse of the blue badge (85%), physical accessibility (84%), improved training and services (80%), inclusive education (70%), increased sensory accessibility (70%), and deinstitutionalisation (68%), among other themes, are the most pertinent.
Photo: DOI