THREE key pieces of legislation have been produced in braille and handed over to the Social Protection Ministry to help sensitise visually-impaired Guyanese about their rights.The production of the Protection of Children’s Act (2009), the Sexual Offence Act (2010) and the Trafficking in Persons Act (2005) legislations are part of a wider support initiative to promote inclusiveness, undertaken by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Marianne Flach, its Representative for Guyana and Suriname said at the handing-over ceremony recently at the Ministry of Social Protection, Lamaha and East Streets.
According to a release by the ministry these pieces of legislation were first translated into user-friendly language and then produced in Braille by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The documents were presented to Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, in the presence of Permanent Secretary, Ms. Lorene Baird; Director of Social Services (DSS) Mr. Whentworth Tanner; Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green, and Commissioner of the National Commission on Disability (NCD), Mr. Ganesh Singh.
Flach, said that the legislation as well as posters about the Early Childhood Development Programme promoting positive discipline as a way to stop corporal punishment in schools, were also converted into the Makushi and Wapishana languages for the country’s indigenous population.
“It’s about leaving nobody behind by ensuring that children have access to these critical legislation that protect their rights. All children should know about their rights and children with disabilities need to have access as well,” she said.
This initial phase of the project saw the production of about 40 copies of each booklet and the intention is to have government expand production for access nationwide.
Minister Lawrence explained that her Ministry will incorporate the initiative in its budget and will work with the NCD to ensure all groups and organisations addressing the needs of the targeted groups have copies of the critical documents.
“This may seem a small event, but it is significant and I wish to thank UNICEF for recognising that in all we do, we need to create a fair chance for every child,” Singh said.
He commended UNICEF and the Social Protection Ministry for the initiative, noting that for a long time persons with visual disabilities have had limited or no access to such legislations, even though they are often victims of numerous violations. He noted that the documents can equip persons with disabilities with valuable knowledge to survive many of the hardships they face in dealing with the transgression of their rights.
He also implored the Guyana government to support the production of all other legislation in Braille. UNICEF has also supported the collaborative effort of making the play area in the National Park friendly to children with disabilities by ensuring it has appropriate access and equipment with safety features, and uses bright colours and sounds for those children.
The water fountain also has various levels of pipes so that children in wheelchairs can access it as well.