“Let’s be on the table, not the menu”, disability advocates call for practical opportunities in policy making
Rights advocates argue that disability rights organisations should actively engage political parties, lawmakers and government institutions to ensure that disability inclusion becomes a priority in national policies and public spending
By Binia Elizabeth
Persons with disabilities in South Sudan are calling for greater representation in government decision making, warning that their exclusion from policymaking continues to limit their access to services, resources and equal opportunities.
The call was made during a disability inclusion conference that brought together government officials, organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), civil society groups and international partners to discuss challenges facing persons with disabilities and ways to strengthen their participation in national development.
Rights advocate Edmund Yakani, who also serves as Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the solution begins with a fundamental change in how society views persons with disabilities.
He said that they must be treated as equal citizens with the right to influence decisions affecting their lives, rather than as people who merely need sympathy.
“If you are not on the table, you will be on the menu,” Yakani told participants, stressing the importance of including persons with disabilities in the processes where policies are developed and decisions are made.
He argued that disability rights organisations should actively engage political parties, lawmakers and government institutions to ensure that disability inclusion becomes a priority in national policies and public spending
Yakani cited the experience of a blind football team that reportedly returned with a trophy but was not given the opportunity to present it to the President, with another person instead taking the trophy forward
For him, the incident illustrated a wider problem, even when persons with disabilities achieve remarkable things, they can still be denied recognition and participation in decisions and public events that concern them.
He said organisations of persons with disabilities must strengthen their advocacy, conduct public awareness campaigns and engage political leaders to challenge discrimination and misconceptions about disability
The activist also called for disability inclusion to be reflected in government budgets, arguing that commitments would remain largely symbolic unless ministries allocated resources to implement them.
“Disability is not inability,” he said, urging persons with disabilities to recognise their capacity to contribute to society and demand equal opportunities
The Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities
Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Director General Celina Grace Peter said disability inclusion must become part of government planning from the beginning, rather than being treated as an afterthought.
She said the government already has a Disability Inclusion National Action Plan based on the national disability inclusion policy, which derives from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
However, she acknowledged significant gaps in the country’s rehabilitation services, noting that South Sudan has only three rehabilitation centres to serve persons with disabilities across the country
The limited number of facilities highlights the challenges many people face in accessing rehabilitation services and the support they need to participate fully in society.
She further urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and translate the conference’s recommendations into practical action.
She identified inclusive early childhood development, access to assistive devices and financial support for persons with disabilities as key priorities.
She also called for stronger cooperation among government ministries, civil society organisations and the private sector to ensure disability inclusion is integrated across all sectors.
For many persons with disabilities, such measures are essential to overcoming barriers that affect their education, mobility, independence and participation in community life.
International partners also expressed support for efforts to turn the conference’s discussions into lasting change
Dr Michele Morana, Head of Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Addis Ababa, described the conference as fruitful, particularly because it brought together civil society organisations and government ministries to explore opportunities for cooperation.
The conference was concluded with a call for stakeholders to take responsibility for ensuring that persons with disabilities can participate equally in society and have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their lives.