YEMEN: Children's recommendations for implementing disability Convention

[SANA'A, 30 October 2007] - During the Middle East and North Africa regional consultation on children and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, children presented their recommendations for making rights of children with disabilities a reality. These recommendations will contribute towards an 'Implementation Handbook' for the Convention which will give guidance on best practices for promoting and protecting the rights of children with disabilities. The handbook will be published by Save the Children in December 2008.

Over 20 children from Yemen, with and without disabilities, participated in the event. They divided their recommendations for change into four settings: the community and the street, the home, schools, and institutions. They presented these recommendations to adults who included government ministers, NGO representatives and individual experts on disability rights.

The recommendations include examples of the kinds of rights violations suffered in each setting, listed who was responsible for these violations, and recommendations for change.

Community and the street

Violations

• violence in language: making fun of children with disabilities, ignoring them
• physical and humiliating treatment: beating, neglect, abandonment, exploiting their material needs by making children with disabililities beg and then taking money from them.
• sexual violence: harassment

Recommendations

• The government Ministry of Social Affairs, Education and Health should work more with associations which work with people with disabilities.
• Education Ministry should take into consideration the special needs of persons with disabilities in the curriculum.
• The Ministry of Social Affairs can give them job opportunities and help to include them in society. If there is no security, they can be subjected to more dangers.
• The Ministry of Information and the media can raise awareness about the issue.
• The needs of people with disabilities should be taken into account in urban planning. Children can also participate in the design of buildings.
• Parliament can make laws to protect rights of persons with disabilities
• Ministry of Human Rights can also provide care
• International organisations can help to solve the problem. UN agencies generally and human rights organisations should follow up the implementation of the Convention. These organisations can help with advocacy and development programmes and support child with disabilities to participate and speak out about their rights and needs.

Home

Violations:

• psychological abuse
• physical beating
• verbal abuse

Who is responsible for these abuses?
The government, media, family, society

Recommendations

• The government should provide resources and equipment for children with disabilities.
• National awareness campaign
• The media should educate society
• The government should recognise the right of children with disabilities to play and provide sports facilities, transport etc.
• The government should educate other children about disability issues

Schools

Violations:

• The curriculum is not appropriate for children with disabilities
• There are no means of transportation, especially in rural areas, many of these have landmines
• Schools do not always accept children with disabilities
• There is no budget to provide the needed equipment
• Security: children with disabilities might be insulted by other children and teachers might beat them and insult them and there is no one to protect them against this.
• They are not allowed to participate in extra-curricula activities

Who is responsible for this?

• Ministry of Education, of Finance
• Highest Council for Motherhood and Childhood
• Teachers

Recommendations

• The government should work with associations which work on disability rights
• The media should help to raise awareness about the rights of children with disabilities
• The government should implement legislation which makes schools install equipment necessary for children with disabilities.
• The Ministries of Social Affairs, of Education and of Health should make sure schools have resources.
• Teachers must be trained to work with children with disabilities
• Children with disabilities should participate in events concerning them
• People should consult with children with disabilities.
• School radio and posters should raise issues affecting children with disabilities.

Institutions

Recommendations

• We want officials to let us participate and include us in society, not just encourage us.
• Support us with training and resources
• The Ministry of Social Affairs should open branches in all provinces of Yemen
• The government should provide equipment for children with disabilities in schools
• Make sure that every child with a disability who needs one has a wheelchair.
• We want to participate in the Olympics
• Society should treat people with disabilities with respect and not look down on them and give them money. They should recognise that children with disabilities have skills.

Recommendations for action for children with disabilities

• Participate in events in society
• Demand your rights through the Children’s Parliament
• Try to get the opportunity to study
• Don’t accept money from people in the street
• Depend on yourself as far as possible to gain respect
• The Children’s parliament should hold sessions for children with disabilities

During this session, the children also sang a song to illustrate their recommendations.

Other news from day 2 of the consultation

• Middle East/ North Africa: Interview with disability rights expert on the new Convention
• Draft child-friendly version of the Convention now available in Arabic - have your say!
• Children's voices: CRIN interview with Jihad from the Yemeni Children's parliament
• Children prepare their recommendations
• Read about day 1 of the consulation here