The International Day of Persons with Disability is commemorated on the 3rd of December. UNESCO’s theme for this year is “Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post Covid-19 world by, for and with persons with disability.”

This special day will be focusing on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people with disability and on the immediate response and crisis through open, inclusive and innovative use of digital solutions, tools and resources.

The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) in a statement, has said that it strongly believes in this theme, so much so, that its recent and various tackling of such issues, say it all.

It is of utmost importance that services required by persons with disability are considered as essential services so as never to stop these services for whatever reason as has happened, due to Covid-19, the MFOPD said.

It stressed that “flexible and safe mechanisms should be put in place to authorise disabled people to be able to leave their homes during mandatory quarantines, for short periods and in a safe way, when they experience acute difficulty with home confinement.”

“Students with disability should receive a good quality education which caters for their “full development of the whole personality including the ability to work,” it said.

The MFOPD highlighted that “the Maltese Government should invest and put in place the measures and tools with which persons with disability can live a dignifying independent life. Personal Assistance is put in place and accessible to all persons with an impairment who need it without any further delay.

“It is imperative that persons with disability, through their organisations, have a voice. The voice of persons with disability must be in the centre of all conversations and policy making decisions at all times,” it said.

The United Nation Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) should be implemented at all times for the full benefit of all persons with disability in the Maltese island, the Federation added.

It concluded by saying, “hen we secure the rights of persons with disability, we move our world closer to upholding the core values and principle of the United Nations Charter and the Convention on the Rights.”

Marthese Mugliette – President MFOPD

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