The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) in collaboration with the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities (SSUPD), with support from #WeAreAblepartners, #VNGInternational #Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) #AfricanDisabilityForum #YGlobal

The two-day workshop aims to build the capacity of designated focal persons from line ministries, state institutions, OPDs, parliamentary and partner organizations to effectively coordinate, implement, and monitor disability inclusion efforts in alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and national disability frameworks.

During the opening, the Consortium coordinator, Mr Taban Richard, focused on the critical need for advocacy in disability inclusion, emphasizing the importance of involving people with disabilities in the planning and implementation of projects and policies. He highlighted the ongoing exclusion of individuals with disabilities from developmental activities, stressing the necessity for collaborative efforts to ensure their inclusion in future initiatives. The discussion concluded with a commitment to develop actionable next steps aimed at integrating disability considerations into government policy and project planning processes.

The chairman of Union of PWDs, Agustino Wudu, added the significance of disability rights and the implementation of relevant policies and conventions, specifically highlighting that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities has been signed by the president and is currently being implemented. Participants were encouraged to actively engage in an upcoming workshop aimed at enhancing their understanding of disability rights and fostering a collaborative environment for correcting misconceptions and sharing knowledge.

The Deputy Chairman of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare at the National Legislative Assembly said the rights and discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, highlighting the need for equality and support from the assembly. It was acknowledged that individuals with disabilities are entitled to human rights and freedoms. The assembly decided to support a motion raised by Honorable aimed at enhancing support for persons with disabilities. As a next step, the assembly expressed readiness to receive relevant bills from the Ministry of Gender to further assist this demographic.