Better disability inclusion is needed to recover better from COVID-19

Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations in Malawi highlights the vital need for Malawi to do more to ensure the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.

UN Resident Coordinator, Maria Jose Torres, said over 10 per cent of Malawians who live with at least one type of disability continue to suffer disproportionate challenges in accessing education, health services and dignified sources of income.

“Every day, persons with disabilities face barriers, not just due to their individual characteristics, but also due to harmful cultural practices and physical or institutional environments that result in vulnerability and exclusion,” said Torres.

In particular, the UN strongly condemns the recent cases of killings and exhumations of remains of persons with albinism. Such attacks, desecration of tombs, as well as continued harmful beliefs that generate discrimination, exclusion and violence against persons living with albinism, must stop.

“Greater efforts are required to dispel harmful beliefs, bring perpetrators to justice and create circumstances that facilitate full and effective participation of all persons living with disabilities, including persons living with albinism,” said Torres.

The UN also acknowledges the multiple challenges faced by women and girls living with disabilities, particularly the threat of sexual violence.

COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that protection, response and recovery efforts cannot be effective unless everyone is equally valued and included. Sadly, the voices and needs of persons living with disabilities have been largely absent from the pandemic response, which reinforces already existing discrimination and inequalities.

As we look forward, both on how to manage this pandemic and recover from it, consultation with persons living with disabilities must be part of shaping our common next steps.

Only through the adoption of a human rights approach will we achieve equitable, sustainable and resilient societies that are able to prevent and respond rapidly to future public health emergencies and other crises to ensure that ‘no-one is left behind’. The future cannot be like the past, and that is what ‘building back better’ should be all about.

The 2020 theme of International Day of Persons with Disabilities is Building Back Better: Towards a Disability-Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 World.

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Currently, there are more than 20 Agencies and specialized organizations of the United Nations active in Malawi which, through their work, contribute to ensuring a better life for the people of Malawi.

For more information, contact: Development Coordination Officer (Programme Communications and Advocacy) in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Phillip Pemba, on phillip.pemba@one.un.org or +265995271671.