Rwanda joined the rest of the world Saturday, December 3, to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which is marked globally to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

This year’s theme is "Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”.

In coining this year’s theme, the United Nations considers this time as a critical moment to act and find joint solutions in building a more sustainable and resilient world for all and for the generations to come, as it is always said, ‘leaving no one behind.’

As the world increasingly moves towards a digitised era where people rely more on technology, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) find themselves at crossroads, where technology is supposed to ease life for them but also at the same time, they find themselves left behind.

The complex and interconnected crises facing humanity today, including the shocks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other countries, a tipping point in climate change, all pose humanitarian challenges of an unprecedented nature, as well as threats to the global economy.

On the occasion of the day, the UN says that most often, in moments of crises, people in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities are the most excluded and left behind.

In line with the central premise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to "leave no one behind,” it is crucial for governments, public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions for and with persons with disabilities to make the world a more accessible and equitable place.

The annual observance of the IDPD on December 3was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.

This year’s commemoration is around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering three different interactive dialogues.

Rwanda has made progressive strides in ensuring that PwDs are included in the country’s development. Last year in May, Rwanda adopted a national policy to help ensure that PwDs enjoy full inclusion in society and equal participation in the country's transformation agenda.

Rwanda has more than 446,000 persons with disabilities, according to a recent census. Eugene Musolini, a Member of Parliament representing PwDs, says the government of Rwanda is ensuring that no one is left behind, with a number of initiatives in place.

"Transformative Solutions for inclusive Development as the theme of this year 2022 says. What we have done to build more inclusiveness in Rwanda, is amending our policies to cover any category of Rwandans including PwDs,” Musolin said, in reference to the new policy.

"This will be followed by the amendment of the laws protecting PwDS in Rwanda,” he says, adding however that gaps remain in terms of mind-set change in society where people still think PwDs unemployable.

"Some people still think PwDs are not able to work and deliver and as such, they don’t offer them employment opportunities. This mind-set has to change. We need to see PwDs treated like any other people,” Musolini says.

"We share this country. Let us work together and remove the barriers that limit us from the services as well as opportunities,” he says.

A more inclusive society

The legislator says that Rwanda has registered impressive achievements in terms of building an inclusive society, pointing out that formulation of the new policy and other initiatives show that there is political will to come up with sustainable solutions to challenges PwDs are facing.

This is attested by PwDs, including members of the National Organisation of User and Survivors of Psychiatry in Rwanda (NOUSPR), a local organisation that advocates for rights of PwDs with psychosocial disability, with an aim of giving them a platform to raise their voice.

Vincent Hategekimana, a member of NOUSPR, says that the country has given them platforms and spaces to express their issues and advocate for their rights, which makes them feel included.

"Before I joined NOUSPR, I was living a difficult life, going through stigma and isolation. But when I joined NOUSPR, I realised we now have something that brings us together and when we speak, the government hears us,” says Hategekimana, who has a mobility and mental-related disability.

The 50-year-old says he used to experience segregation from childhood and was denied many opportunities because he was disabled.

"We were denied opportunities but we want to commend the Government of Rwanda for putting in place policies that ensure that we are included in society. While we know there is a long way to go, at least today we have a platform,” Hategekimana says.

Today, as a board member of NOUSPR, he is actively involved in efforts to raise awareness and change the mind-set around the perception that PwDs cannot deliver at work as normal people.

Rose Umutesi, the chairperson of NOUSPR, says that together with partners, they have been working on advocacy and awareness raising for the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities.

"This year we have brought together different local leaders from Rusizi district and its affiliated entities, as part of awareness raising on how to address and mainstream rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities,” says Umutesi, adding that this group was often left out.

Umutesi says they also work with health facilities to ensure that PwDs get the right care when they go to seek medical care. These are things that really ensure full inclusiveness according to her.

Dr. Donatilla Kanimba, Executive Director of Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), says Rwanda has made great steps in ensuring inclusiveness but a lot more needs to be done to meet the universal measurements of inclusiveness.

"The universal measurements as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are broad,”

"We need to do more to ensure that we are at the same standard as the whole world as we are expected,” Kanimba said, emphasising the need for more deliberate efforts to ensure that Rwanda is well on track with other countries.

Starting with children

Organisations like UNICEF say such inclusive initiatives need to start right from the grassroots, beginning with children with disabilities because that is the only way such inequalities that isolate PwDs begin, right from childhood.

Globally about 15% or 1 billion people have some type of disability. Disabling attitudes and societal barriers isolate millions of people, deprive them of opportunity, and rob the broader society of their talents.

Available data show that globally, the proportion of persons with disabilities living under the national or international poverty line is higher, and in some countries double, than that of persons without disabilities.

Persons with disabilities face increased risks of poverty, fewer educational and employment opportunities, and poorer health outcomes.

According to the 2017 Fifth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV5), literacy rates among those 15 years of age and above are substantially different between persons with and without disabilities (43% and 75% respectively).

What’s more, only 28% of women with disabilities in rural areas are literate. The 2015 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) Report indicates that about 25 per cent of household heads in severely food insecure households are disabled, compared to only nine percent in food secure households.

As Rwanda joins the rest of the world to mark the IDPD 2022, persons with disabilities hope through policymaking, conditions can become more favourable for them to be part of the development and transformation process.