Inclusive approach crucial for child rights, SDGs: Disability experts

Disability experts have stressed the importance of adopting an inclusive approach to protect the rights of all children, including those with disabilities, as a means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

According to the experts, the SDGs highlight inclusiveness and the well-being of all children, including those with disabilities. They argued that adopting such an inclusive approach will help realise the SDGs, and without it, efforts to achieve these goals may be hampered.

These views were shared during an opinion exchange meeting titled 'Protecting the Rights of Children with Disabilities,' held at the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday. 

The event was organised by the Centre for Services and Information on Disability (CSID), a non-government organisation, with the support of UNICEF, according to a press release.

The meeting was attended by members of the National Executive Committee on Disability, which was formed to protect the rights of people with disabilities as outlined in 'The Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013'. 

One of the key topics of discussion was how to include the protection of children with disabilities in the agendas of various government committees, including the National Executive Committee.

As per Article 17 of Law No. 39 of the Disabilities Act, five committees were formed to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities—the National Coordination Committee, National Executive Committee, District Committee, Upazila Committee, and Town Committee.

Iftekhar Ahmed, director of CSID, who presented the keynote paper, called on government representatives to include the protection of children with disabilities in committee meeting agendas.

Khandaker Jahurul Alam, executive director of CSID and the meeting's presider, pointed out that children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to mental, physical, and sexual harassment due to their disadvantaged position. 

He urged all government officials to ensure the issue is added to the agendas of disability rights and protection committee meetings, as addressing this will improve the socio-economic conditions of people with disabilities.

Iqbal Hossain, joint secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, attended the meeting as the chief guest, while Mahmudullah, additional director of the Social Services Department, was present as the special guest. Both leaders expressed their commitment to working on the protection of children with disabilities.

Representatives from 14 ministries, as well as from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and civil society organisations, also attended the meeting.