Rights of Persons with Disability must be addressed, says Tonga’s Department of Women’s Affairs
31st August, 2013
The Ministry of Health, supported by the Department of Women’s Affairs (Ministry of Internal Affairs), in partnership with Naunau’o e’Alamaite Tonga Association Incorporated, Tonga Red Cross and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC RRRT) are running a consultation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) from 31 July to 2 August 2013.
This Consultation was officially opened by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Lopeti Senituli, on Wednesyday morning at the Office of the National Emergency Management Office in Nuku’alofa.
The consultation is aimed at enhancing the knowledge of government civil servants and key stakeholders in Tonga on the rights of people with disability and the Government’s obligations under CRPD.
Discussions will focus on strengthening working relationships between the Government and Disabled Persons Organisations in the country in order to address the needs of people with disabilty.
It is also intended that the consultation will assist the key stakeholders involved in the formulation of Tonga’s Disability Policy to develop further the Policy and ensure its compliance with CRPD as well as national needs.
The key topics that will be covered include ;
- Understanding the Disability Paradigm
- CRPD in practice
- Situational Analysis on Disability Development
- Non- Discrimination and Equality
- Gender, Disability and Human Rights
The consultation is being held at the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) in Nukulofa until Friday afternoon.
For further information, please contact Lepolo Taunisila, Country Focal Officer for SPC RRRT based within the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Women’s Division on phone (676) 27145, Mobile: (676) 7742967 or email: lepolotaunisila@yahoo.com
Issued by the : Ministry of Information and Communications, Nuku’alofa, 2013