Message by H.E Ombeni Sefue, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania
MESSAGE BY H.E OMBENI SEFUE, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
THEME: “TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL:
INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPMENT”
2 DECEMBER, 2011
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Tanzania is grateful for the opportunity to speak at this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, focusing on the theme, “Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development”.
We all know that persons with disabilities make up the world’s largest marginalized group. They are disproportionately poor, are more likely to be unemployed, and have higher rates of mortality than the general population. All too often, they do not enjoy the full spectrum of civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights open to others. More recently, that has been changing, as progress has been made throughout the world in ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in and benefit from development. But much more needs to be done to ensure their full integration, and the full realization of their abundant potential.
As the deadline for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals draws near, the international community must use all possible means and avenues to ensure that disability is included in their implementation and in any development framework beyond 2015.
It is in this regard that the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/C.3/66/L10 decided to convene a High Level Meeting, at the level of Heads of State and Government, on 23 September 2013, to address this issue. We were honoured to work with the Philippine Mission on this resolution and we look forward to continuing working with them in the build-up to this meeting which will provide an invaluable opportunity to consider a global strategy for mainstreaming disability in all aspects of the human development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Perhaps no one portrays the inherent power, determination and ingenuity of people with disabilities than the late Hellen Addams Keller. You all know her story. Born with little or no useful sight and little or no useful hearing, yet with determination and support, especially from her visually impaired teacher, Anne Sullivan, she not only became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree but ended up being a prolific and inspiring author, and a well-traveled activist. And I am always humbled by her huge success against all odds. And she said,
“If I regarded my life from the point of view of the pessimist, I should be undone. I should seek in vain for the light that does not visit my eyes and the music that does not ring in my ears. I should beg night and day and never be satisfied. I should sit apart in awful solitude, a prey to fear and despair. But since I consider it a duty to myself and to others to be happy, I escape a misery worse than any physical deprivation.”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are many people with disabilities out there who have similar determination, similar courage and similar optimism. All they need is for us to believe in them and support them; to overcome our ignorance, our indifference and our prejudices, and then they will blossom perhaps more than we do.
On this observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, let us renew our pledge to fight exclusion, to create opportunities for all people, and to build societies in which persons with disabilities are seen not only as beneficiaries of society’s support, but as an empowered and empowering source of social, cultural, political and economic development.
May we always keep them in our minds, not only on this Day of Persons with Disabilities, but always, every time, everywhere.
I thank you.