HUMAN Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) joins the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
A public event was held with panel discussions and a movie screening with policymakers, dignitaries from various embassies, and experts from the disabled community.
In line with the theme raised by the United Nations, Suhakam chose to jointly celebrate the creative, artistic, and intellectual potential of the disabled and together find a solution to uplift the community.
The panel discussion that was organised aims to be a platform for the exchange of ideas, foster awareness among stakeholders, and elevate voices not usually heard.
In a stirring opening speech, Suhakam chairman Professor Rahmat Mohammad urged the public and Malaysian government to play a more active role in supporting people living with disabilities.
“Personally, I feel that Malaysia as one of the countries party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) since 2010 is still lagging behind in implementing its commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities (PWD) are given the rights they deserve – the same as every other citizen,” he said.
He called for the Malaysian government to amend laws to keep with the current standards of protection.
“Until today, we still make exceptions to some important provisions of the CRPD. Among them, Articles 15 and 18 guarantee the protection of the disabled from torture and cruelty as well as freedom of movement and citizenship.
"It is time for the Malaysian government to withdraw all these exceptions and amend the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 to ensure equal protection and treatment for our disabled brothers and sisters.
"In fact, I think that Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution should be amended, this at the same time guarantees equal treatment without any discrimination against the disabled.”
In general, PWD have the right to the involvement of cultural life similar to everyone else. However, they are denied the right to enjoy many public facilities.
Considerations must also be taken for improved access to movie theatres, museums, and concerts such as suitable seating for wheelchair-bound individuals, sensory-friendly cinemas, and movies that come with closed captioning or audio descriptions, among others.
‘Garang: Aku Luar Biasa’ produced by Sakti Film Production was screened afterward for attendees. The movie revolves around former paralympic athletes who represented Malaysia on the international stage.
Mohammad hopes the screening would inspire those present to advocate for the rights of disabled people and spur the creativity of PWD.
“Creative art is one of the most effective advocacy tools to highlight the 'lived reality' faced by the disabled.
"We hope that this program can also be an inspiration so that the disabled are not marginalised to gain access to performance and cultural services,” he remarked. – The Vibes, December 8, 2022
