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June 07, 2011
Disability association renews call to ratify convention-Antigua & Barbuda
We found the following news about Mr.Bernard Warner a former participant of Leadership Development Course 2010, and President of the Antigua & Barbuda Association for Persons with Disabilities. http://www.jicafriends.jp/projects/latinamerica/antigua/l2010warner/index.htmlIt was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
By Tameika Malone - Wednesday, May 25th, 2011.
President of the Antigua & Barbuda Association for Persons with Disabilities Bernard Warner has renewed the call for the country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it signed on to five years ago.
Referencing steps taken by neighbouring Jamaica towards ratification, Warner said a number of important issues regarding health care and employment for persons with disabilities would first need to be addressed.
“Jamaica did a tremendous job back in 2007 where they have developed a national policy for persons with disabilities which assist in many areas of concern. There is a national council for persons living with disabilities in Jamaica which handles many of the issues related to rehabilitation and it is very important that Antigua & Barbuda take it very seriously about our youths whether it is sports or education,” Warner said.
“I had first-hand experience of the benefit of having a national policy in place and this is just a tip of the iceberg that will make life much easier for persons with disabilities in Antigua & Barbuda.”
He also wants to see Antigua & Barbuda develop policies to help in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and provide funding to the national rehabilitation programme that would assist in the training and educating of disabled persons.
Admitting that government has made monetary contribution to the association, Warner said, “We are still waiting and asking for government and society to come on board and help to ratify this and make it possible for future generations will be able to work freely without discrimination.
“If you so care then you would consider supporting us and the first step of supporting us is to come on board and support the ratification of this convention which is important for the long-term survival of persons with disabilities … people will be conscious of human rights and access and employment that will reduce poverty in persons living with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, Warner is appealing for people who may have old wheelchairs to donate them to the association and therefore relieve the shortage of wheelchairs for disabled persons.
The chairs will be refurbished and handed over to persons who are in dire need of them, he added.
Persons are asked to contact Amarilla Henry at 720-7264 or Warner at 720-7263 for further
http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=59062
Posted by jicafriends at June 7, 2011 01:42 PM