Worldwide, December 3 has been celebrated since 1992 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations (UN). It aims to “promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of their particular situation in all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life”.  While it is true that people with disabilities face different types of violence, women and girls with disabilities are all the more vulnerable if we take into account their social position as a marginalized category. They are therefore exposed to multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination. On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Défenseurs Plus launches an appeal for solidarity from civil society organizations, state and international actors, with a view to combating all forms of discrimination and violence to which people in situations of disability are victims, particularly women and girls.

In Haiti, the precarious economic situation, the non-adaptation of infrastructures, the absence of government policies, are among other factors which constitute an obstacle to the well-being of people who live with a physical, mental, intellectual, motor or physical disability, sensory. Furthermore, it is difficult to see a considerable presence of this fringe in the employment sector. And those who work do not benefit from a decent salary. What’s worse, the Haitian labor code makes no mention of special treatment for disabled people. Inequality of opportunity is one of the recurring problems faced by this category. Défenseurs Plus believes that regardless of their disability, everyone has the right to fully enjoy their rights.

According to the data collected, the percentage of people aged 15 and over experiencing some sort of functional difficulty is 24.9%. And unfortunately, around 15% of the Haitian population lives with a disability. Despite this considerable number of people affected by this problem, the Haitian State struggles to promote the development and use of goods, services and equipment that meet the specific needs of people with disabilities, as enshrined in the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol.

Défenseurs Plus, an organization for the promotion and defense of human rights, is taking advantage of this day to raise awareness among the Haitian population and to encourage the Haitian State to take its responsibilities to improve the situation of people with disabilities, who are often marginalized in Haiti.

Port-au-Prince, December 3, 2023

Wilkenson Franklyn Junior JN DENIS

Head of Legal Affairs

Tel: +5093195-1475