The Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission in Fiji has launched a significant baseline study aimed at evaluating the rights and needs of children with disabilities across the nation. Scheduled to span a year, this research will focus particularly on the challenges these children face in accessing education, healthcare, and essential services.
Commissioner Veena Singh emphasized the importance of accurate data for informed decision-making, highlighting that a concerning statistic reveals children with disabilities are three times more likely to have never attended school compared to their peers. Although Fiji has recently made strides in aligning its policies with international standards, such as the 2018 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, which established the National Council of People with Disabilities, gaps still exist in understanding how these policies affect the real lives of disabled children.
The findings from this study are anticipated to serve as a critical tool for shaping future policy decisions, ensuring that children with disabilities are afforded equal opportunities in education and healthcare. Pravesh Sharma, the chairperson of the Commission, elaborated on its broader responsibilities, including human rights advocacy, legislative review, and addressing complaints related to human rights violations.
This moving initiative is a hopeful step towards inclusivity, as it aims not only to identify the challenges confronted by children with disabilities in Fiji but also to document success stories that can inspire positive change and remove the stigma surrounding these individuals. As the study progresses, there is a shared anticipation that it will lead to actionable insights and effective strategies that promote equal access to education and essential services for children with disabilities, further contributing to a more equitable society.
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