Friday, 27 December 2019
THE ADOPTION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE RIGHT TO POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES MARKED WITH A SOLEMN EVENT IN THE ASSEMBLY
The solemn event organized by the Inter-party Parliamentary Group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IPPG) and the Polio Plus Movement against Disability marked today the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Political Participation of Citizens with Disabilities in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.
This Declaration, as stated by the President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi in his introductory address, is a concrete result of the joint commitment of all MPs regardless of their party affiliation, but also a result of the intensive cooperation with the Technical Committee of IPPG - Polio Plus - Movement against Disability.
“Thanks to their persistence and of course the support of all of us here, can we be at peace with our conscience and the responsibility we have as representatives of all citizens. Because society for all should not be a mere phrase, equal rights and freedoms for all should not be a mere learned phrase, but a way of functioning in every sphere of social action of the citizens, that is, both where decisions are made and where they are implemented. In order for implementation to be effective and to achieve its goal, inclusivity is needed, engaging everyone who will contribute to a different kind of perspective. As the saying goes, to put on and walk in someone else's shoes so you can feel and understand the pain. Because life has challenges, expected and unexpected barriers, however, let us not allow that we, the people are the ones who will create new difficulties, on the contrary, let’s focus on enabling accessibility, inclusivity for each individual because since we are all unique and special in a certain way, we all have something personal to contribute in building a more humane, more solid, and above all equal society with equal treatment of all”.
President Xhaferi expressed confidence that this Declaration would be a road map to change the current situation both nationally and locally, that is, in places where firstly people with disabilities face discrimination.
At today's ceremony the Deputy Chairpersons of IPPG, MPs Jagoda Shahpaska, Trajce Dimkov and Liljana Popovska also addressed the audience, emphasizing that, in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, since the establishment of the Inter-party Parliamentary Group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there has been a consensus among parliamentary parties to promote the rights and the living and work conditions of persons with disabilities, and to create an inclusive society that has no place for any form of discrimination.
At today's event, representatives of the Polio plus Movement against Disability, supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, presented a Plaque to the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia as an institution that has made significant contribution to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, which on behalf of all MPs was received by President Xhaferi, who also received a certificate of Recognition for his support of the persons with disabilities. The Secretary General of the Assembly, Cvetanka Ivanova also received a certificate of Recognition for her efforts and support.
IPPG members from the 2017-2020 parliamentary composition received special certificates of acknowledgment for their work and their special contribution and commitment to promoting the rights and equal opportunities of citizens with disabilities.