Hello everyone! Welcome to another presentation of IN THE WHITE. Hope you all are doing well, as well as in good health.

Today’s write-up is the start of a publication of a report titled “Accessibility: A Right for Persons with Disabilities.” I wrote this document a few years ago, as a 300-level Politics student at The University of the South Pacific.

Due to the length of the report, I have decided to publish the report on this platform in three parts. The first part consists of the Executive Summary and Introduction of the report. Part two will discuss three subheadings namely “Access to Infrastructure, Access to Information, and Access to Education” in more detail. While part three will consist of the Conclusion, Recommendations, and list of sources as the Bibliography used to compile the research.

I hope you will find this piece of writing interesting and informative as I release Part One of the “Accessibility: A Right for Persons with Disabilities” report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since the rights of persons with disabilities are on the rise, accessibility in general terms would play a vital role in the sustainability of the lives of the disadvantaged. Accessibility allows persons with disabilities equal opportunity to actively participate in socio-economic activities and decision-making. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees equality in all aspects of human life and provides a scope of development to improve the livelihood of this vulnerable group.

For the purpose of this research paper, the document seeks to focus on article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD, which primarily concentrates on accessibility. The write-up examines the extent to which Fiji has fulfilled its obligation to article nine of the CRPD.

The information installed in this research document has been extracted from credible sources such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Fiji’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018. It is important to note that the research does not include primary data such as interviews due to the lack of time to be ethically prepared to out on the field. Therefore, it will rely solely on the collection of secondary material.

Overview of Findings

Upon ratifying the convention on the rights of Persons with disabilities in 2017, the Fijian government introduced the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018”, which reflects the state’s efficiency and commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Fiji.

Some of the key areas the report will elaborate on include; access to infrastructure, access to information, and access to education. It will then provide a suitable recommendation for each of these areas to create a better living environment for the less fortunate.  

INTRODUCTION

Fiji ratified the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 7 June 2017. To enforce the ratification, Fiji introduced the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018.” Section 29 of the act ensures the right to accessibility for all disabled individuals in any circumstances. It could be said, accessibility is the backbone of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities because, without a disability-friendly environment, it is not possible to include individuals with impairments.

It is the role of the government to ensure persons with disabilities are considered part of the community and given adequate care with the right support they need to live a sustainable life. The need for stricter laws and effective monitoring of the legislation is necessary to boost the morale of the disabled community so they feel safe and confident enough to fight for their right under any jurisdiction.

It is also important to note and acknowledge that different impairments exist within the disability sector which makes every differently abled individual unique and their needs versatile. It is worth noting that many people around the globe live with more than one disability. For instance, if someone is suffering from hearing impairment they may face speech difficulty or physical disability at the same time. For such cases, extra help or any additional support from the government or Non-governmental organizations could prove vital in improving the lives of disabled individuals.

This research paper proposes to focus on accessibility, article nine of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities with areas confined to infrastructure accessibility, access to information, and education.