3 November 2009

Your Excellencies
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Deputy British High Commissioner;   and
(Other) Dignitaries present
Representatives of Associations
Representatives of Schools
Officials from the DAC
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

When South Africa joined the family of nations in 1994, she embraced many of United Nations human rights instruments, one of them being the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

South Africa subsequently ratified this Convention last year on 30 November and by so-doing subscribed to the commitment of recognising the importance of the principles and policy guidelines contained in the World Programme of Action concerning Persons with Disabilities and in the Standard Rules on the equalisation of plans, programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further equalise opportunities for persons with disabilities. (PSC January 2008 Assessment Report)

2008 is a significant year because the Convention and its Optional Protocol came into force in this year on 3 May.

The United Nation’s Theme for this year is “Dignity and Justice for all of us”.

We, too, in South Africa, observe and celebrate 3 December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

But, as one would expect of South Africa, we take it much further than one day by observing the whole month, 3 November - 3 December, as Disability Awareness Month. I guess, we are trying to make up for lost time during the many years of isolation by the international community.

A major focus of this month is awareness- raising through practical action in order to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Moreover, emphasis should be placed on the advantages to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every respect of social, cultural, economic and political life.

Objectives of Disability Awareness Month for us in South Africa are:

• To reflect on progress we have made insofar as the implementation of policies, programmes and legislation that the UN Convention has advocated;
• To raise awareness and place sharper focus on and identify challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities and their participation in mainstream society in the next fifteen years;
• To focus on the goals and achievements in the disability sector and identify priorities for the future.

The Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity to every single person and institution in this country to reflect on their own practices and work towards eradicating all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities and improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.
A concrete action was that of the OAU in 2000 when it declared the African Decade of Disabled People. The period 2000-2009 was formally declared the African Decade of Disabled Persons and adopted at a meeting in Algiers 12-14 July 1999.

This was an initiative of the non-governmental community of Africa in cooperation with member states and Governments of the OAU to further equalization opportunities of persons with disabilities. The Plan of Action  was adopted by the AU (successor to OAU) and calls upon AU member states and Governments, of which South Africa is a member, to promote awareness and commitment to full participation, equality and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Africa.
The African Decade is recognized as a sub-programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) whose basic goals include promoting accelerated growth and sustainable development and eradication of widespread and severe poverty.

The African Decade Objectives are:

• Poverty alleviation and reduction among persons with disabilities and their families;
• Disability awareness-raising in Africa;
• Putting disability issues on the social, political and economic agenda of African Governments;
• Strengthening the voice of persons with disabilities as well as the use of the UN Standard Rules as a basis for the development of policies and legislation to protect the interests of disabled persons in Africa.

During 2000 the OSDP commissioned Research Dynamics to assess the status of disability among all government departments.

We have recently received a report on the Assessment on Disability Equity in the Public Service from the Public Service Commission. I regret to inform you that we are not doing well, at all.

The report states that the last census which was done in 2001, indicates that there are approximately 2 255 982 persons in this country with disabilities, that is approximately 5% of our population.

As can be expected we had 1 173 939 women and 1 082 043 men with disabilities.

What is also significant is that the poorest provinces seem to be having the largest number of persons with disabilities.
KZN          470 588
EC            372 266
Gauteng    331 611
Limpopo     268 902

I am ashamed to admit that the Department of Arts and Culture is not classified as a mainstream department in the application of disability initiatives, but by the nature of its programmes, it is a high profile department, being in charge of mapping the direction and aspects which impact on every person in South Africa.

Since the policies of the department are based on fundamental human rights and the South African Constitution, the profile of People with Disabilities should be high on our agenda and visible.

Our proposed strategy “Celebrating Abilities” is therefore premised on our Constitution, the Integrated National Disability Strategy and the Plan of Action as endorsed by the seventy-sixth ordinary session of the OAU (AU), held in Durban in 2002.

Our Draft implementation plan for the Differently Abled hopes to achieve the following goals:

• To support the DAC strategy which promotes the goals of full participation, equality and empowerment of people with disabilities within all Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors in South Africa;
• Formulate the DAC policy and support national programmes that encourage the full participation of persons with disabilities in the arts to achieve social, cultural and economic development;
• Implement measures to ensure their access to the physical environment, education, training and employment, as well as cultural activities;
• Develop programmes that reduce poverty amongst disabled people and their families;
• Mainstream people with disabilities within the DAC and its related institutions.

The exhibition we are privileged to view tonight embraces all this.

The exhibition has 3 foci:

1.   The “Look at Me” exhibition
This photographic exhibition celebrates the strength, sensuality and courage of 23 disabled women through their personal stories and the lens of an international photographer, Lucie Pavlovich. At the heart of the book and exhibition is the tension between the notion of beauty and disability. This exhibition challenges the all-too-easy assumptions that exist regarding women living with disabilities.

The exhibition, which, I believe, is the brain- child of Marlene Le Roux and owned by the British Council, hopes to contribute to more insightful ways to be more sensitive and inclusive in our daily lives of all our people, irrespective of differences.

2.    The Mouth and Foot half century
For half a century the Association of Mouth and Foot artists have successfully supported artists who due to a disability or illness create works of Art using their mouth or foot. Over the years the Mouth and Foot fraternity has developed from 18 artists to an association that represents 730 artists in 75 countries. Eric Stegmann, the founder of the association, wanted to inspire artists like him to further develop their talents and also to become financially independent. The association proudly supports budding artists of all races from all  walks of life to become independent and economically viable.

3.     New Hope School
 New Hope is a school for learners with disabilities. Some are mildly and some profoundly disabled. The school’s artists have been nurtured to win the 2009 Eisteddfod for their courageous endeavours. Their artworks are truly South African Art and of such a calibre and quality that leaves one astounded. I salute the art teachers who have stimulated and motivated these learners to use art as their medium of expression. The artworks have found their way into the homes and hearts of local, national and international art lovers.
This exhibition is a call to action.
I am certain that all of us assembled here tonight agree that we need to participate fully to support the programmes that encourage full participation of people with disabilities. We further need to agree that, as government, we will promote the development and achievements of artists with disabilities from all walks of life. Finally, we should also agree that all artists with disabilities should be brought into the mainstream.

To date people with disabilities have been part, but not central to programmes celebrating different abilities. In addition to participation in these forums, we would propose that greater emphasis be placed on the profiling of the artworks of people with disabilities.

We must:

• encourage positive attitudes towards people with disabilities, especially children, youth, women and the elderly;
• mainstream disability on the cultural, social, economic and political agenda of the Department of Arts and Culture;
• put in place programmes that create greater awareness of communities who are differently abled;
• answer to the clarion call of  our sisters and brothers living with disabilities, which is:  “Nothing about us, without us”;
• we must act now!

I now have the honour and privilege to declare this exhibition open. Please take time to view it and let us have your comments which will assist us in improving it next year. 

I thank you.