Cape Town: As South Africa commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), the government has urged citizens to persist in treating people with disabilities with respect and equal recognition beyond the day of observance. Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, emphasized the need to dismantle social barriers and perceptions to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.

According to South African Government News Agency, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is held annually on 3 December. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, raising awareness of their situation in political, social, economic, and cultural life. This year’s theme, ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’, underscores the importance of disability inclusion in global development efforts.

This observance occurs amid significant
global developments, such as the Summit of the Future and the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development. These international gatherings aim to provide a roadmap towards disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development.

South Africa marks Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) from 3 November to 3 December annually. The 2024 campaign reaffirms the universality, interdependence, and fundamental human rights of people with disabilities, ensuring their full enjoyment without discrimination. To conclude the 2024 DRAM campaign, Minister Chikunga, along with the Western Cape Social Development Department, hosted a stakeholder engagement session in Cape Town. This session was conducted in collaboration with the Parliamentary Public Education Office and provided a platform for strategic engagement on issues affecting disabled communities, showcasing the government’s commitment to disability rights and inclusion.

Minister Chikunga also led a Parliamentary debate to close Disability Rights Awaren
ess Month, highlighting the importance of disability inclusion in achieving a more inclusive society.