1 comment.AD supports Human Rights Walk for Persons with Disability
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Alternattiva Demokratika – the Green Party expressed its supports of the Human Rights Walk, which got underway this morning in Valletta. The walk has been organised by the National Commission for People with Disability, with the support of the EU.
Claire Azzopardi Lane, AD Spokesperson for Disability Issues, said that “the rights of persons with disability are basic human rights. Amongst current challenges in Malta, one finds the need for better opportunities for post-secondary inclusive education for people with learning disability, access to leisure for young people with disability, accessibility in all aspects of social life, employment opportunities, financial subsidies towards personal assistants and independent community living.”
“AD joins the Malta Deaf Community in their appeal to the Maltese Government to recognise the Maltese sign language as a legitimate language. We also join the global Deaf Community in general in their support against the fact that the Italian Government originally planned to recognize the deaf sign language system as “Italian Sign Language,” is now planning to refer to it a “language of mimes and gestures”. The Deaf Sign Language users throughout the world are outraged by this insult, as it has long been proven and recognised worldwide, that Sign Language is a language in every sense of the word. Sign Language just as any spoken language has its own structure, syntax, linguistics, synonyms and morphemes. It is clear that the Italian government is breaking the protocols and agreements as described in the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which they themselves have ratified.”
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “AD has been making various proposals with regard to persons with disability as we believe in social inclusion, independent living and community participation. Persons with disability, those who support them, their families and carers and civil society representatives such as NGOs, should be given more voice in social policy.”
This is appalling on so many levels. I am glad that in the face of all this absurdity that people are organizing and protesting. For too long persons with disabilities have remained hidden and unseen. The brighter the light that is shone on these and other similar situations the better.
Laws don’t seem to make a difference perhaps shaming them will.