Three councils in Cameroon will be awarded for disability-inclusion during the 33rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December.
A competition to award the most disability-inclusive councils was launched at the 2024 National Committee for the Re-adaptation of Socio-economic Reintegration of Persons with Disabilities, known by its French Acronym as CONHRA in Yaoundé.
The maiden award for disability-inclusive councils is one of the innovations of the CONHRA 2024.
“This session is focused on the implementation of the convention of the United Nations regarding the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). CONRHA permits all actors to make the content of the convention known so that all those involved in the implementation should know what is expected of Cameroon after the ratification of the convention,” Pauline Irene Nguene, Minister of Social Affairs said while launching the event.
The competition to award the most disability-inclusive council comes shortly after the convention was ratified by the United Nations. It raises national awareness on the operational responsibilities of the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with disabilities.
“The convention was ratified in 2021 and in 2025, an evaluation is supposed to be carried out. We have to start preparing for that evaluation so that we can have a report that matches what was expected of us,” the Social Affairs Minister said.
From 18th -19th September, the stakeholders discussed the provisions of the convention, addressed challenges to its implementation and outlined a plan for its smooth implementation.
CONHRA 2024 held on the theme: “The implementation of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
Modalities of the Award
Three councils that get a pass mark for fostering disability-inclusion in Cameroon will take home prizes ; 1.5m FCFA for Gold , 1mFCFA for the silver and FCFA 750,000 for bronze.
“ This award is one of the ways of motivating councils to adhere to the UN convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities,” the Social Affairs Minister said.
The disability-inclusive award primarily aims to facilitate the socio-economic integration of PWDs and enforce the implementation of the country’s 2010 laws on disability.
Cameroon’s over 370 councils are expected to ensure that PWDs have equal access to opportunities and services. Organizers are also looking out for councils that have adopted inclusive communal policies and legislation, ensure accessible public services and infrastructure, and organize capacity building training programmes amongst other initiatives.
“ This is time for business and we have to work together to make sure that every corner of our country is inclusive. We have equal opportunities for every child with disability starting with education, health, employment and just everything else,” Dr. Foyet Eugene, Policy Adviser for the CBC Health Services said.
Councils play a key role in Cameroon’s implementation of the UN convention on the rights of PWDs.
“This is why during CONRHA 2024, we launched the council’s award to stimulate their involvement in inclusive development. This is to ensure that they play their expected role in creating an inclusive environment for everybody,” Dr. Foyet Eugene, Policy Adviser for the CBC Health Services told CRTV WEB.
Empowering PWDs
The UN convention on the rights of PWDs is designed to protect the rights of this group of people in all spheres including education, professional, political and socio-cultural.
PWDs are hopeful that the convention will totally change society’s perception of this group of people who have much to contribute to the development of the society.
“If PWDs are given the right opportunity to go to school, they can perform well. This means adapting infrastructure to suit their needs, having buildings that are accessible to people who use white canes and wheel chairs, and having inclusive pedagogy and educating PWDs so that they don’t become beggars but have jobs to cater for themselves and their families,” President of the Cameroon Association of Learned Blind and Visually Impaired and CRTV journalist , Nsom Lingom said.
Stakeholders are also hopeful that the successful implementation of the convention will speed up political and social integration of PWDs.
Kathy Neba Sina
