To promote rights of persons with disabilities: UNESCO lauds gov’t over success of phase one of inclusive project.

He was speaking in Yaounde October 16, during a meeting to evaluate phase one of the project and present the objectives and the outcomes to stakeholders. 

The meeting was also used to validate the work plan for Phase two of the project. It was chaired by the Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irène Nguene.

The project is a unique collaborative effort that brings together United Nations, UN agencies under the United Nations Partnership for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNPRPD, government of Cameroon, Organisations of People living with Disabilities, OPDs, and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.

The project includes UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.

The project aims to strengthen the rights of persons living with disabilities, accessibility and promote inclusive services and non-discrimination in Cameroon.

Speaking during the evaluation session, the Regional Director for UNESCO disclosed that the implementation of the first phase was very effective nationwide.

“Our testimonies today show that capacity building has happened effectively in all 10 regions but a lot is left to be done in this second phase where we pursue more specialized areas depending on priorities defined together,” Coustère said. 

The UNESCO Regional Director said through the efforts of the Ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS, 15 other ministries were involved in the project in all aspects of the government action.

Coustère expressed optimism to see some of the results of participation access, growth in capacity building.

He said it is on such results that they can hope for a third phase “because it is a kind of case study on how you can create momentum”. 

The UNESCO Regional Director emphasised the need to strengthen presence in all 10 regions with particular attentions to “areas most affected by the crisis”.

He also harped on the need to enhance support to decentralized local authorities. 

Enter Minister Pauline Irène Nguene

The Minister of Social Affairs, Pauline Irène Nguene, used the meeting to laud strides recorded in the implementation of the first phase of the project.

She assured participants of government’s efforts in ensuring the protection and promotion of rights persons with disabilities.

The member of government also re-echoed the importance of inclusive planning and programming, political participation and the operationalisation of the population.

“The government along with the UNPRDP, has put in place capacity building workshops, given room for political inclusion, and so with the opening of this phase two, we will reinforce inclusive participation in all domains of the country,” the Minister assured.

About UNPRPD project 

The United Nations Partnership for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNPRPD, is a unique collaborative effort that brings together UN agencies, governments, organisations people with disabilities, OPDs, and civil society at large to promote the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide. 

The UNPRPD supports coalition building and capacity development at the national level to facilitate the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD, contributing to the achievement of a society for all in the 21st century.

Cameroon has initiated the implementation of the project to support the strengthening of the rights of persons living with disabilities, accessibility, inclusive services and non-discrimination in Cameroon.

The project has been running from July 20, 2022, and has enabled several activities to be carried out in the 10 regions of Cameroon. 

The Phase 1 ended on May 31, 2024, and achieved four main results while the second phase will begin this October 2024 to end February 2026.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3263 of Friday October 18, 2024