Rundu, Namibia - The National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) hosted a consultative workshop in Rundu on Tuesday to deliberate on the Persons with Disabilities Draft Bill and the National Policy on Disability. The workshop was convened in response to the outdated national policy on disability established in 1997.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), NDCN Chief Executive Officer Angelique Philander stated that the current policy no longer meets the needs and advancements of people living with disabilities. The goal of the workshop was to develop a comprehensive and up-to-date national policy on disability. Philander emphasized Namibia's commitment to addressing issues concerning persons with disabilities, recognizing their strategic roles in national development and achieving goals set out in Vision 2030.
She highlighted the urgency to fast-track the implementation and domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, aiming to remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from actively participating in society.
Philander noted that existing legislative frameworks do not comprehensively protect the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, prompting the development of the Persons with Disability Bill, which will replace the National Disability Council of Namibia's Act of 2004.
Kavango East Region Governor Bonny Wakudumo, in a statement read on his behalf, mentioned that these consultations aim to align Namibia with international obligations and provide necessary protection for persons with disabilities within the country.