–Singh tells UN stakeholders

NATURAL disasters brought on by climate change and man-made hazards disproportionately affect the lives of persons living with disabilities worldwide, with developing nations like Guyana being more vulnerable.
Efforts are, however, being made locally to priortorise the inclusion of persons living with disabilities in disaster risk management activities through a Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management legislation.
Director of Projects and Policy at the Office of the First Lady, Ravin Singh, on Thursday, informed the 17th Meeting of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability at the UN Headquarters in New York of the work underway to draft the historical legislation.
“Guyana’s National Commission on Disability holds a permanent seat on the national Disaster Risk Management Platform. This mechanism ensures that persons with disabilities are among the first to receive humanitarian aid and psychosocial support in times of disasters,” Singh said during his contributions to a roundtable discussion.

He stressed that persons living with disabilities around the world face heightened vulnerabilities in wake of natural disasters, conflicts, and other crises.
“The Government of Guyana recognises that reliable data is essential for effective planning and response to humanitarian emergencies, and is currently conducting a situation analysis of persons with disabilities to inform and respond to their needs; particularly those in situations of risk,” he said.
Singh further related that the legislation will guarantee the inclusion of persons living with disabilities in planning; and prioritise their needs in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
“Guyana remains committed to ensuring that the protection and safety of persons with disabilities are adequately and systematically addressed through policy, legislation and humanitarian action,” he related.
He reminded too that growing prevalence of “acquired disability” as a result of conflict – such as the war in Gaza – is a stark reminder of the need for more to be done to protect persons living with disabilities.

On Tuesday, Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali voiced a passionate and strong call for greater international financing for disability-inclusive development in developing countries during her to the opening ceremony of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
During her remarks, the First Lady highlighted that there are limited institutional, technological and financial capacities in small developing states.
“In a truly inclusive and sustainable world, persons with disabilities must be empowered to live a life with dignity and respect; a life where they can realise their potential. What is the reality? In developing countries, the majority of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed and many children with disabilities do not attend school,” First Lady Ali said.
Guyana, she added has taken a “life course” approach to supporting persons living with disabilities.