Norway calls for legal implementation on disability
Norway has urged government to improve disability rights by strengthening implementation of legislation and policies which it signed and enacted if the rights of children with disabilities are to be realised.
The outgoing Norwegian Ambassador Asbjorn Eidhammer
He said his government will continue to support implementation of relevant disability laws and policies such as mainstreaming disability issues in the public sector.
But Eidhammer appealed to government to address the issue of resources towards the ministry and other government departments which deal with the matter to ensure speedy and efficient implementation.
“There are a lot of non-governmental organisations on the government’s side. Legislation is there, but now there is need for commitment and satisfactory resources to implement these policies. We have been assisting government and will continue to do so,” Eidhammer said.
Minister of Gender Patricia Kaliati commended the Norwegian government for its assistance in helping government to ensure rights of people with disabilities are realised through a community-based rehabilitation programme in Blantyre, Balaka,Machinga and Mzimba.
But she asked the Norwegian government to roll out the project to more districts.
In 2006, government adopted the National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009 and enacted the Disability Act in 2012.
