Persons with disability ask for 15 percent representation in government

By Simon Deng

Persons with disability have asked for 15 percent representation in across all institutions of government.

“I am urging the government to provide 15 percent representation to persons with disability,” said Alfred Nimeiri, the representative for Disability in the Grassroots Women Network, a local civil society in Juba.

 Nimeiri noted that women and youth have already been given 35 and 20 percent representation in government.

 “We just want our percentage so that we will participate fully without any fear and without problem,” he said.

Nimeiri revealed that persons with disability need inclusive consideration in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

“We will be an inclusive society if our voice can go around the country, we will not participate fully in the community because our percentage is not there, we have right to participate in any institution, whether employment or airing our views,” he said.

In February 2023, President Salva Kiir signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.