The Secretariat of the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities

Mr Thomas Ong’olo

African Decade — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:27:32 +0000

Role: Programme Manager

Mr Kudakwashe Dube

African Decade — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:22:55 +0000

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Mr Bhekie Jele

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:40:58 +0000

Bhekie

Role: Executive Support Officer – Fundraising and Knowledge Management

Ms Nanou Kambaji

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:38:19 +0000

Role: Finance and Office Administrator

Mrs Wasiela Tobias

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:36:34 +0000

Role: Office Secretary and Receptionist

STOP XENOPHOBIA!

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:25:54 +0000

For Immediate Release

Press Release June 2, 2008

The Secretariat of African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) condemns the spate of violence and hate meted out on foreign nationals in the past two weeks. The action taken by South Africans against their very own was not only embarrassing to the nation but a gross violation of human rights.

Disabled persons were among minority groups that bore the brunt of the violence due to their immobility. It is quite unfortunate to have able bodied human beings run around with machetes to kill with impunity of unimaginable levels.

The secretariat calls on the government to indict perpetrators of the mob killings and be tried in a court of law. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities prohibits discrimination in all areas of life. It demands respect for life, the right to live in the community and equal opportunities for all.

South Africa is among eight African countries that have ratified the UNCRPD and their rights must be guarded zealously. Actions that contravene the laws of the land must be condemned.

The secretariat calls on the police department to be more vigilant in arresting and curbing the attacks that are a disgrace to other South African Nationals who respect life and care about persons with disabilities.

Killing people will definitely not put food on the table. Instead disgruntled elements who view foreigners as the source of their poverty and joblessness, must find a solution to their insecurities. “Don’t kill disabled people! They have a right to life”.

AK Dube
C.E.O, Secretariat of African Decade of Persons with Disabilities

Tel: 021-426 5858
Email: info@africandecade.co.za or jane@africadecade.co.za
Address: 8 Burg St, 10^th Floor the Pinnacle Building, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

For more information, visit www.africandecade.org.za, and click on the Secretariat.

VICTORY FOR THE DISABILITY MOVEMENT!

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:25:05 +0000

Ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities

Press Release April 7, 2008

It is with exuberance that the Secretariat for the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) acknowledges the ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UN Convention is a result of a collective global effort, in which various African countries as well as the Secretariat have actively participated and contributed to.

The convention is instrumental in addressing the inhumane treatment of people who have disabilities and ensures that people with disabilities can enjoy their undeniable human rights. It also provides mechanisms through which attitudinal, social and environmental barriers can be lowered and ultimately eradicated in order to accommodate the needs of those with disabilities in order that they may participate fully and meaningfully in society.

The first ratification of this convention took place in 2007. In order for the convention to take effect, it takes thirty days after the 20th country has ratified it. After the ratification of Ecuador, Jordan and Tunisia on 3 April 2008, 20 countries have ratified, and the Convention will therefore come into force on 03 May 2008. To commemorate this groundbreaking accomplishment, the United Nations will be having an entrée into force celebration on 12th May 2008, in New York.

The ratification of the Convention is a culmination of the commitment of various stakeholders including Governments, Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), civil society groups as well as development agencies. The SADPD is proud to be part of an historic quest for the realisation of equal rights for all human beings and commends Gabon, Guinea, Namibia, Republic of South Africa and Tunisia for taking the lead among African states. The Secretariat shall continue to undertake its work with both governments and Disabled Person’s Organisations (DPOs) across the African continent, encouraging countries to ratify the convention as well as providing support in the implementation of the convention at country level.

For more information visit our website: www.africandecade.org or contact us at:
Telephone: +27 (0)21 426 5858 Fax: +27 (0) 21 422 0861
Email: info@africandecade.co.za

For further information on the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities please visit: http://www.un.org/disabilities/

SADPD appoints Goodwill Ambassador

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:24:17 +0000

Pape Sheik Diouf has become SADPD’s first goodwill ambassador.

Senegalese musician, author and music composer, Pape Diouf has become SADPD’s first goodwill ambassador in September 2007.

The young singer has dedicated himself through his work to advocate for the protection and respect of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

Pape is an inspiring role model who has gained much experience from working with the likes of Youssou Ndour, Ismael Lô, and others. His music is renowned throughout West Africa, United States, Europe and other countries where Senegalese communities reside. He has surmounted incredible odds to get where he is in life and has achieved a lot in his robust career as a musician, music author and composer.

Pape is delighted to be able to use his influence as an artist to attract attention to SADPD’s work and to promote disability as a human rights issue and in so doing raise awareness among media and the general public about disability and persons with disabilities.

Born in 1973, Pape Diouf lives in Dakar. He has released three successful albums and is currently recording a fourth which will be in the national and international market by December this year.

Pape Sheik Diouf (his full name) was a plumber with a certificate of 4th category, who pursued his passion after he dropped out of school in his final year. He has a passion for traditional music, and found his inspiration by the success and commitment of Youssou Ndour, who to chose to pursue his passion as his profession, in spite of his father’s disagreement.

Among his fans and admirers of his music this young man is known for his “steel moral” because everything he pursues is done so on a strong moral standing.

Pape Sheik Diouf has dedicated each of his public performances to advocate for the protection and respect of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

His new album also includes a track dedicated to persons living with a disability.

We at the SADPD are very happy that we have this opportunity to work in partnership with Pape Diouf. In the near future we expect to appoint one or two more famous people to serve as Goodwill Ambassadors for SADPD and persons with disabilities.>>

The EU-Africa strategy – working to support the rights and needs of persons with disabilities living in chronic poverty

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:21:59 +0000

PRESS RELEASE – DATE 24 DECEMBER 2007
THE AFRICA-EU STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – A Joint Africa-EU Strategy
The Secretariat of the Africa Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) notes with appreciation the inclusion of disability in the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership: A Joint Africa-EU Strategy (the Strategy).

The context, shared vision, principles and objectives of the Strategy offer unprecedented opportunities to address the needs, human rights and aspirations of disabled people in both Europe and Africa. The new approaches and strategies outlined in the declaration are all relevant to the needs and priorities of disabled people in Africa. We would like to urge African governments to take primary responsibility to ensure that all the provisions on the Strategy mainstream disability at all levels of planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes.

Disabled people in Africa can play a useful role in promoting peace and stability, strengthening the principles of democracy and human rights and contributing to the objectives for trade and regional integration. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be attained without the active participation of disabled people on the African continent.

We believe that development cooperation must ensure that disability is mainstreamed in all programmes and that specific support should be provided to organisations, government departments and other entities with disability programmes and projects. We welcome the inclusion of gender equality and issues related to the environment and climate change. The latter issues have a negative impact on the quality of life of disabled people all over Africa and disabled people’s role in promoting the required changes should be recognised and supported.

Issues related to migration and agriculture/ food security are top priorities as disabled people are caught in various unfavourable situations that threaten their ability to survive. We pledge our support to initiatives that promote the active involvement of disabled people, not just as consumers of agricultural produce, but also as producers within all the essential processes of the food value-chain.

We would like to thank our partners, DSI/ Danida, Sida, DFID, ODG, Southern Africa Trust, and CBM for their support to the Secretariat’s programmes and initiatives.

We extend our thanks and gratitude to the African Union (AU), ARI and African Parliamentarians/ leaders for their support for disability inclusion in Africa and within the Strategy.

END OF STATEMENT

The Secretariat challenges private businesses

African Decade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:20:32 +0000

Persons with disabilities benefit business – it is time for companies to give something back”

Press Release, Cape Town, 20 April 2007

The CEO of the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, Mr AK Dube, has challenged the private sector to acknowledge and reward organisations of persons with disabilities promoting economic development and mainstream business.

Speaking at a special ceremony today to reward the Magnum Shield security company personnel based at the Pinnacle Building in Cape Town, A. K. Dube thanked the company for deploying staff that are knowledgeable about the needs of persons with disabilities. The security personnel have demonstrated a high level of awareness about the needs of persons with disabilities who work in the Pinnacle Building and members of the public with disabilities who visit the building and the Secretariat for various business purposes.

A. K. Dube awarded the Magnum Shield security company a financial contribution to a special occasion associated with the security personnel based at the Pinnacle Building.

He challenged travel agents, hotels and other suppliers who work with the Secretariat to contribute funding and other resources needed to support the programmes that benefit mainstream business.

“For instance, we need our travel agents and airlines to understand that the more than R1.9 million that we spent on travelling was obtained after a lot of hard work in South Africa and overseas. Companies should support us, say by giving us air-tickets and accommodation packages, that enable us to work even harder for the mutual benefit of these established businesses and the Secretariat”, A.K. Dube said.

“Similarly, we have spent huge amounts of money on postal services, courier charges, purchasing of equipment and utilities. We challenge the companies in these sectors to assist the Secretariat as well. It is an opportunity for them to give something back to the disability movement, and to demonstrate a social responsibility.”

“Lastly, big companies are involved in industries such as mining, agriculture, telecommunications and medicine. These are areas in which persons with disabilities have a great deal of interest not only as consumers, but as potential suppliers or employees. We challenge them to utilise this resource. Persons with disabilities are punctual, highly productive, committed and loyal to employers.”

“It is essential that big business and particularly those doing business in Africa, realise and harness this potential and support programmes that unlock the value in persons with disabilities. It will benefit the whole society”, Mr Dube continued.

The Secretariat runs programmes on capacity building, policy development and implementation, HIV/AIDS and gender. We establish national disability steering committees and support the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“Support to these programmes is crucial to the improvement in the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The inclusion of persons with disabilities in all sectors of society will generate more economic activity and benefit big businesses”, A.K. Dube concluded.

For companies that are ready to take on this challenge, contact AK Dube directly, at

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (SADPD)

Tel: 021-426 5858
Email: info@africandecade.co.za or akdube@africandecade.co.za
Address: 8 Burg St, 10^th Floor the Pinnacle Building, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

For more information, visit www.africandecade.org.za, and click on the Secretariat.

The media can request high resolution photos from the ceremony at the Pinnacle Building by contacting Lina Lindblom: lina@africandecade.co.za

The African Decade of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the African Union for the period 1999-2009. The main goals of the African Decade are to raise awareness about the situation of the estimated 80 million persons with disabilities in the region, and to identify solutions tailored to the African experience that enhance participation, equality and empowerment of Africans with disabilities.