Addis Ababa, 6 December 2023 (ECA) - Persons with disabilities are integral to global wellbeing as they contribute their intellect, skills and abilities in social transformation, and they should not be excluded and discriminated against on the basis of their disability.
This was the clear call from participants attending a series of panel discussions as part of the Disability Inclusion Awareness week at the Economic Commission (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this week.
The discussions, focusing on the need for appropriate language towards persons with disabilities, reasonable accommodation, disability inclusion employment and human rights formed the basis for the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Participants shared personal experiences on barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the work environment underlining the need to raise more public awareness about institutional and attitudinal barriers that make it difficult, if not impossible for persons with disabilities to participate in everyday life and common daily activities, be employed and to work.
Barriers highlighted include poor work environments such as physical barriers for persons with disabilities, the lack of easily and safely accessible work areas and inappropriate conditions where they cannot perform their duties because they need assistive devices and tools. Furthermore, social discrimination, based on perceptions that disability is inability persist.
Moderating the discussion on perception of barrier experienced by persons with disabilities within the UN system, Terhas Clark, a Disability Inclusion Officer with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) noted that the world needs to be more aware of including persons with disabilities in all social activities through the ease of access to working spaces and improved communication.
Participants suggested that sign language, for example, should be made mandatory language for high level managers within the UN system and that all staff should be encouraged to learn it and use it. In addition, they called for the recognition of hidden disabilities which include autism, neurodiversity and albinism which were ‘invisible’ disabilities because of their complexity and the discrimination attached to them.
Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance highlighted that the UN believes that diversity was its strength and that embracing differences enriched the workspace, sparking creativity and innovation. Ms. Pollard said the UN is dedicated to building a workplace where individual abilities are valued, where barriers are dismantled and where opportunities are limitless.
“Disability is a unique aspect of the human experience,” Ms. Pollard said in a video message, emphasizing that, “By making our workplace more accessible, providing reasonable accommodations and implementing inclusive policies, we ensure that persons with disabilities can participate equally.
Encouraging a reflection on the importance of empathy, compassion and understanding, Ms. Pollard said the world must challenge stereotypes and prejudices that surround disability as it was the responsibility of all to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive personally and professionally.
Amy Farkas Karageorgos, an internationally recognised leader in disability inclusive development with the United Nations Development Cooperation Office (UNDCO), said while reasonable accommodation is not specifically associated with persons with disabilities it is something very important.
According to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Article 2, ‘Reasonable accommodation’ means the necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Ms. Karageorgos said reasonable accommodations were steps taken to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to perform their job functions equal to their peers through the provision of structures , tools and modifications. Where reasonable accommodations are not provided it is considered a form of discrimination.
“Reasonable accommodation is not something someone has to ask for, it is not personal preference, it is an obligation of the employer to ensure the work environment is acceptable as possible so that person has the opportunity to be employed and do their work,” said Ms. Karageorgos, giving an example that someone blind needs a screen reading software to interact with colleagues and read documents and even a personal assistant to access and read UN documentation.
“We have created an environment, a working culture which is based on the average or ableist approach, meaning we have created an approach for people without disabilities, we have not taken the universal design principles and created an environment where people with disabilities have an equal opportunity.”
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org