Statement of the Acting UN Resident Coordinator at the Celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities

Hon. Deputy Prime Minister,

Government officials,

FODSWA Executive,

Distinguished partners,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Brothers and sisters,

A very good morning to you all.

It is an honour and a great pleasure that I am with you today, on behalf of the United Nations Family, to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I am humbled to be amongst those such as yourselves, who show incredible strength, bravery and resilience daily, despite the obstacles which you face.

This year’s theme, ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world,’ comes at a pertinent time, as we seek to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and indeed, the ongoing civil unrest in our beautiful Kingdom of Eswatini.

Globally, over one billion people, or 15 percent of the world’s population, live with a form of disability. Whilst in Eswatini, a staggering 146,000 EmaSwati live with disabilities, equating to over 12 percent of our population.

We cannot contemplate a better world without our brothers and sisters with disabilities at the forefront of our recovery. In the words of the UN Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres; “Realising the rights, agency, and leadership of persons with disabilities will advance our common future.”

Thus, we must make every effort to listen to the call of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, that is; ‘Nothing about us, without us.’ It is no longer acceptable to make decisions for our brothers and sisters with disabilities without their leadership and participation, particularly as we strive to achieve Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development amidst our recovery from the pandemic.

Furthermore, the outbreak of COVID-19 has revealed and indeed, worsened the deep, far-reaching inequalities experienced by vulnerable groups across the world, including persons with disabilities; those who oftentimes have minimal access to health services, education, employment opportunities and more.

Lack of access to life-saving information about the coronavirus and essential precautionary measures, due to limited provisions of information in Braille, sign language interpretation and audio, as well as minimal access to public transport, and the closures of schools, without provision of assistive digital technologies and interpreted educational material for persons with disabilities, are some of the many inequalities which threaten efforts to ensure that our brothers and sisters with disabilities are not left behind.

However, despite the immense obstacles which persons with disabilities face daily, they continue to show an extraordinary courage, strength and perseverance; overcoming all that is in front of them with humility and grace. I would like to take a moment to truly honour the bravery that you; my brothers and sisters with disabilities, have shown prior to and throughout the pandemic. Might we share a round-of-applause together, to appreciate your incredible daily achievements.

As we endeavour to recover from this tumultuous period in history, yet harness the unique opportunities with which it presents, it is vital that persons with disabilities are consulted every step of the process. Their voices are the building blocks to a successful recovery, for they represent resilience to adversity, agility and perseverance – such which we are in desperate need.

We can no longer afford to over-look the important call for persons with disabilities to be included in all decision-making processes: a call that has not been adhered to for far too long. I recall this time last year, through the UN75 dialogues, that our brothers and sisters with disabilities appealed for greater participation and inclusion in decision-making processes, particularly in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Nations Secretary-General has therefore called for a “disability-inclusive pandemic response and recovery” which should be “guided by persons with disabilities themselves”. He continued that we must make every effort to “forge [strong] partnerships, tackle injustice and discrimination, expand access to technology and strengthen institutions to create a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”

It is imperative that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is fully implemented in all countries, including the Kingdom of Eswatini, to “increase accessibility, and dismantle legal, social, economic and other barriers, with the active involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.”

This vision of an inclusive and accessible world for persons with disabilities is reflected in Agenda 2030 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 which seeks to enable “a prosperous, just and resilient Eswatini where no one is left behind”.

The United Nations is deeply committed to enabling transformative change with and for all EmaSwati, including our brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Prior to, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed the incredible leadership and strength of persons with disabilities, notably through the leadership of the previous Executive of FODSWA, Mr Sipho Dlamini. A passionate and committed man of great courage; it has been an exceptional term of service for Mr Dlamini. On behalf of the United Nations Family in Eswatini, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr Dlamini, for his essential partnership and commitment, and wish him very well on his future endeavours.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to extend the deepest congratulations, on behalf of the UN Family, to the incoming Executive of FODSWA, ……., for this impressive achievement and great responsibility with which … bears. It is without a doubt that your passion, dedication and leadership will contribute to a “just, prosperous and resilient Eswatini, where nobody is left behind.” I sincerely look forward to growing the already-strong partnership between the United Nations and FODSWA.

Today’s celebration is indeed, an example of the impact which persons with disabilities have within their communities, nations, and the world: most of whom are natural leaders. Might we make every effort to stand with our EmaSwati brothers and sisters with disabilities, in ensuring the full implementation of the Disability Act of 2018 and the Eswatini National Disability Plan of Action 2018-2022.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate His Majesty’s Government for recognising the essential rights of persons with disabilities in formulating this Act and Plan and encourage the Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Deputy Prime Minister to continue their gallant fight to empower EmaSwati with all forms of disabilities.

We must continue as partners to work together to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, increasing awareness of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life, as well as the need to ensure their participation and leadership in all areas.

In the great words of Superman actor, Christopher Reeve; “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming circumstances.”

I thank you for the wonderful opportunity to celebrate this great occasion with you all.

Siyabonga.