“United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities”
It has been 3 decades since the United Nations proclaimed 3rd December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, with different themes based on the different issues experienced by persons with disabilities in their daily lives. For this year’s celebration the theme is on the Sustainable Development Goals commonly known as SDGs for short. The aim of the SDGs is to transform the world in a better place to live in with 17 goals for action now for a prosperous future of the world at all levels. Among the 17 goals, 5 of them have mentioned on persons with disabilities and we are going to divulge on them.
Goal on Quality Education 4.5 says by 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations. This goal lays emphasis on the elimination of gender disparities and ensures equal access to education. In Mauritius, some improvements have been accomplished in terms of access to education with ramps facilities in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions but more needs to be done. However, teachers need to be trained with sign language and braille for communication with the deaf and the visually impaired in mainstream educational institutions.
Goal on Decent Work and Economic Growth 8.5 says by 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. Regarding employment, we have the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board Act which provides for the workforce of all employers having 35 or more employees to include 3% of persons with disabilities. Failure to abide by the recruitment of persons with disabilities, the employer shall pay a fine of Rs 4000 monthly. Some private sector companies do employ persons with disabilities but not all. Unfortunately, the legislation applies only to the private sector and parastatal bodies and not public sector. Therefore, it is not incumbent on the government to employ persons with disabilities in different ministries in the public sector and this is discriminatory in itself.
Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities 10.2 says by 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. On this goal we can say that persons with disabilities are not fully empowered socially and economically while politically completely left behind. Girls with intellectual disabilities and hearing impairments are often victims of sexual harassment such as rape. Persons with disabilities are also deprived of their rights for reserved parking use by persons without disabilities. Political inclusion is totally absent in Mauritius since major political party of the country do not promote persons with disabilities to join politics for change.
Goal on Sustainable Cities and Communities 11.2 says by 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. Accessibility is a real issue in Mauritius with the public transport systems such as the buses being inaccessible to persons with physical disabilities using wheelchair to move around. Only Mauritius Metro Express is accessible but for a person with physical disability using wheelchair to make use of it has to hire a taxi to reach the metro station. Our roads and pavements are not up to the standard like in Europe, America, etc…
Goal on Sustainable Cities and Communities 11.7 says by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. It is to be noted that our green and public spaces are not accessible to wheelchairs for example forest and nature park. Thus, persons with physical disabilities using wheelchairs to move around cannot benefit from our nature parks and forest. In Europe and other foreign countries there are many facilities in parks and forest whereby persons with disabilities can benefit fully from them.
Goal on Partnerships for The Goals 17.18 says by 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts. In Mauritius, collection of data is still an issue as the Mauritius Database Management System is not up to date with the exact numbers of persons with disabilities. Therefore, proper monitoring is very difficult to carry out.
In conclusion, we can deduce that part of the SDGs goals where disability is mentioned have been implemented by the government. Seven years to go to accomplish all the 17 goals and it is never too late for the government of Mauritius to put in more effort and work seriously for the welfare and wellbeing of persons with disabilities. As a Disability Rights Activist, I make an appeal to the government for proper action to do needful.
Mohammad Yaaseen Edoo
Disability Rights Activist
Queen’s Young Leader
Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society
Accessibility is a real issue in Mauritius with the public transport systems such as the buses being inaccessible to persons with physical disabilities using wheelchair to move around.
