“The rights of people with disabilities featured as one of the priority policies of the present government” -Ambassador Masud at the UN

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York, 15 June : “The rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities featured as one of the priority policies of the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina”, said by Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen at the 10^th Conference of State Parties of Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at UNHQ, New York.

The PR also said, “Disabilities are considered as the consequences and causes of poverty and inequality. The general principles and obligations of the Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are similar to that of the National Constitution of Bangladesh which was envisioned by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh ratified the CRPD as the eighth country. Subsequently, Bangladesh enacted two rights based laws for persons with disability and autism – ‘Protection of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013’ and ‘Neuro Developmental Disability Protection Trust Act, 2013”.

Ambassador Momen highlighted exemplary measures have been taken by the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to establish and ensure equal respect, rights, full participation and equal opportunities of the disabled citizens of the country. The Government had established Autism Resource Centres and hostels with full accessibilities for both male and female persons with disabilities. The Government had approved a comprehensive project to set up a separate Disabilities Complex and Disabilities Sports Complex. These complexes will be an international Center of Excellence for the persons with disabilities, autism and other NDs.

He noted, in his statement, Ms. Saima Hossain, daughter of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Autism has been playing pioneering role in promoting the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities including autism in our country. It may be noted that Bangladesh tabled the resolution entitled “addressing the socioeconomic needs of individuals, families and societies affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD) developmental disorders (DD) and associated disabilities’ was adopted at UN General Assembly. Every year, the Mission of Bangladesh arrange High Level Event at the UN to observe the ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ on 2 April.

The PR reiterated, the government of Bangladesh is committed to take account of persons with disabilities in all development efforts for poverty elimination and for the equalization of opportunities in the country in achieving 17 Goals of 2030 Agenda, noting the pledge to ensure, ‘no one is left behind’.

It may be noted that the 10 Conference of State Parties are being held at the United Nations from 13-15 June at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and the Convention entered into force on 3 May 2008.