The National Human Rights Commission of Senegal (CNDH) on Tuesday highlighted the presence of people living with disabilities among the new deputies.
In Senegal, the fifteenth legislature was installed on Monday, with a strong majority of 130 deputies from the ruling party, Pastef, including two people living with disabilities. Blind, Amadou Lamine Diouf is the new deputy of the Senegalese people of North Africa while his comrade Awa Seck, physically disabled, is among the elected officials of the department of Mbacké, located in the center of the country.
“The presence, within this assembly, of deputies living with a disability constitutes a major step forward in the promotion of inclusion and equal opportunities,” indicated in a press release the CNDH, led by Amsatou Sow Sidibé, woman politician and law professor.
The organization notes that the new legislature is marked by a “diversified representation which reflects the different components of society”. It magnifies this initiative which demonstrates a significant step towards equitable and inclusive representation within decision-making bodies. She also encouraged the authorities to “put in place the necessary facilities to guarantee the full exercise of their mandate by deputies living with a disability”.
Formulating recommendations, the CNDH calls for the provision of adapted tools, such as Braille documents for the blind as well as the development of infrastructure in order to make premises accessible to people with reduced mobility.
The Commission also invited political actors to “increase efforts for an even more representative number of people living with disabilities in elective institutions during the next elections”. She stressed that it is “crucial that this inclusive dynamic be strengthened to make Senegal an example in terms of human rights and citizen participation”.
ODL/te/APA
Senegal
