United Nations Sierra Leone Resident Coordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi's remarks | International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

Honourable Ministers and representatives of Government MDAs,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and development partners

Representatives of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)

Members of the Press

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

December 3rd is here again, and I am honoured to join you all to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

I wish to, on behalf of the UN Country Team, commend the Government of Sierra Leone, especially the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities for their commitment to addressing disability inclusion issues, and for organizing today’s event. The annual commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.  The aim of the IDPD is to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

It is thus worth reminding everyone that approximately 15 per cent (more than 1 billion people) of the world’s over 7 billion population, live with some form of disability, with 80 per cent of these living in developing countries.  In Sierra Leone, the 2015 Population and Housing Census puts the number of PWDs around 93,000 which corresponds to 1.3% of the population, while the 2018 Integrated Household Survey found it to be 4.3% of the population. Despite this data gap, the fact is that a large number of Sierra Leoneans are living with or affected by disability and each one of them is a valuable member of society.

The UN Secretary-General in June 2019 launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) which provides the foundation for transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through this Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

His Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The theme for IDPD this year is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.” This is in recognition of the UN’s belief that disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.

The theme is pivotal to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ‘to leave no one behind. As UN Secretary-General puts it, “the commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment in a common future”.

The global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic presents many challenges. It is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion, and highlighting that work on disability inclusion is imperative. In a country like Sierra Leone where almost 70% of the population live below the national poverty line, COVID-19 has helped expose the barriers that persons with disabilities face. Even under normal circumstances, persons with disabilities are less likely to access health care, education, employment and to participate in the community.

With Covid-19, we now see more clearly that disability inclusion requires an integrated approach if persons with disabilities are not to be left behind. It is within this context that the UN Country Team has been supporting the Government through policy and programmatic interventions that seek to provide sustainable livelihoods for PwDs and strengthen the national regulatory framework for the full implementation of the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increase accessibility, and dislodge legal, social, economic and other barriers with the active involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.

The UNCT recently worked with the Ministry of Social Welfare, the National Commission for Persons with Disability, and Organizations of Persons with Disability to develop and submit a joint proposal to the UNPRPD. Once this is approved, PWDs will be fully involved in its implementation.

It is my hope that today’s commemoration will strengthen all stakeholders’ commitment to disability inclusion as part and parcel of a COVID-19 response and recovery that better serves everyone and helps Sierra Leone to build back better.

I thank you all for your kind attention.