As a prelude to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), with this year's theme "How others view us", the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) organized a reflection workshop on the legal framework relating to the rights of people with disabilities in the presence of two former Secretaries of State : Michel Pean and Gérald Oriol Jr.

In his remarks for the occasion, Secretary of State Genard Joseph underlined that this workshop aims, among other things, to prepare the specifications for the sector of disabled people in order to force society to better treat those who live with a deficiency. For Genard Joseph, it is society that stands like a “barricade” because it does not facilitate accessibility in public and private environments for people with disabilities.

Louis Arlext Noe, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Disabled People (BSEIPH) focused on article 22.2 of the law of March 13, 2012 which stipulates "A Fund is created national solidarity for the integration of disabled people" whose mission is to respond to the different needs of disabled people, deploring that until now this Fund is not operational…

Dr. Michel Pean advised people with disabilities to take note of the laws adopted in favor of the sector to be able to better defend them and to enforce them for the well-being of all.

Me Pétion B GREEF, Director of Human Rights of the Citoeyn Protection Office in a brief intervention, recalled that the State does everything possible to protect and enforce the rights of people with disabilities in society.

The last intervention was given by Rose May Legoute Coordonnator of RANIPH who shared with the participants her experiences on the schooling of children with disabilities.

To close this day, participants worked in a workshop to discuss several important topics.

Did you know ?

In 2007, the Haitian Government created the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH). Five years later, on March 13, 2012, the Legislative Body adopted a law enshrining the rights of people living with disabilities to social inclusion within national activities. This law prohibits any discrimination against people with special needs in the employment sector and requires the State to integrate people with disabilities into the public service and private sector institutions with more than 20 employees the obligation to reserve a 2% quota for people with disabilities among its staff.

HL/ HaitiLibre