<%-- Page Title--%> Human Rights analysis <%-- End Page Title--%>

August 1, 2004

Children with Different Abilities

Oli Md. Abdullah Chowdhury

A good number of people of total population in our country are physically or mentally disable and unless we involve them in the total process of development, sustainable development can't be achieved. Some of them have become physically crippled either congenitally or as result of disease or being a victim of accident, or due to improper or maltreatment or for any other reasons became physically incapacitated or mentally imbalance. Their rights are often ignored though the constitution of People's Republic of Bangladesh ensures equal rights for all citizens.

Children with different abilities (the new term is being used in stead of 'disability') are in a more vulnerable situation. Though Bangladesh is one of the earliest signatory of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), very little has been done so far to establish the rights of the children with different abilities.

However, UNCRC is based on four key principles-
Non-discrimination
Best Interest of the Child
Survival & Development
Participation

Children with different abilities are discriminated in the family, school, community and above all in the society. Their best interest is seldom considered and as a result their survival and development are greatly hampered. They often do not have the right to participate at all.

Accountability, inalienability and indivisibility are the principles of human rights. Children with different abilities are also human beings and Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is also equally applicable to them also, nevertheless. They are entitled to those rights set forth in the human rights conventions with all other human beings.

Article 4 of UNCRC also sings in the same tune with the UDHR principle of accountability. It states, States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognised in the present Convention. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international co-operation. As Bangladesh ratified UNCRC, government is accountable to the people, UN and obviously children for the implementation of rights.

People with different abilities are principally divided into five categories. They are, (1) Visually Impaired (2) Physically Handicapped (3) Persons having Hearing Impairment (4) Persons with Speech Impairment (5) Persons with Mental Disabilities. Bangladesh Persons with Disability Welfare Act also included person with multiple disabilities as some persons have more than one type of disability. Apart from this, Co-ordination Committee could declare any other type of impairment to be defined as disability as per the welfare act.

Again, the major limitation of this act is that children are not the prime focus of this act. Children have some special needs and children with different abilities should enjoy their rights fully with other children. Their agenda should be included in further enactment of law and UNCRC provides the guideline.

"States Parties recognise that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community"- as stated in the Article 23(1) of UNCRC. While considering children with different abilities, state party should ensure dignity, self-reliance and participation. It is not an act of charity; rather they are entitled to these rights.

Moreover, children with different abilities don't have a proper access to education. Inclusive education system should be adopted in our educational system. An archaic methodology is practised in Bangladesh that children with different abilities go to different school made for them. Thus, they are excluded from mainstream children. UNCRC provides a scope for international co-operation and government should sought international co-operation if needed for the mainstreaming of children with different abilities.

Furthermore, some children become physically handicapped in our country due to the lack of access to the health facilities. "States Parties recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health" if the government could implement as stated in Article 24 of UNCRC, some sorts of disabilities could be prevented in the childhood.

Not only children with different abilities, but also persons with different abilities find difficulties in moving as our roads and highways are not friendly enough to them. Service centers and offices both public and private seldom offer a safe moving condition for persons with disabilities. Teachers should be trained on teaching for children with different abilities to make school friendly for children with special needs.

Again. government is going to finalize National Plan of Action (NPA) for children. For the first time, children are being consulted for formulating NPA. Issues of children with different abilities must be incorporated in NPA as they are one of the largest groups among vulnerable children.

To recapitulate, children with different abilities are one of the most vulnerable groups of children in our society. Often, they are not paid enough attention in the family even. Fellow children also don't want to mix with them for existing social taboo. This condition must be improved and children with different abilities should be developed in a condition, which ensure dignity, self-reliance and participation.

Oli Md. Abdullah Chowdhury is a human-rights worker and writer