National Summit on Disability Inclusion is one of the major events of the Project Inclusion implemented by the YMCA of Pamunugama together with the Sri Lanka Welfare Society of the Blind. This project if fully supported by Y Global (International arm of the YMCA/YWCA of Norway) through Atlas Alliance (Umbrella organizations for OPD in Norway).Summit was held from 18 - 20 March 2022 at Hotel Lavinia in Negombo with a participation of 54 men and women representing 7 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and 7 Organizations of Persons with With Disabilities (OPD). Despite the challenging economic crisis and shortage of transportation facilities in the country, it was encouraging to see the expected participation which underline the need for collective efforts towards the Inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Event started with a simple opening ceremony where Mr. Britto Fernando and Mr. Herman Kumara, two well known Human Rights Activists graced the occasion. After lighting candles by participants symbolizing the enlightenment, two guests briefly shared their thoughts and experiences of being activists and the importance of networking similar to what is happening in the summit. During the morning session of the 2nd day, there were number of interesting related topics were discussed and the sessions were held using participatory methods. Disability Inclusion was deeply discussed from different dimensions and the different approaches of working with people with disabilities also were discussed during the initial session. Participants also worked-out a definition for disability in local language, considering international standards and the new trends in the field of disability inclusion work.
In the afternoon, participants studied the toolkit for advocacy work in disability inclusion. It was identified as a very clear and specific guideline for CSOs and OPD for common advocacy activities as well as in their programmes and activities within their representing organization. Participants made a proposal to have further study sessions on the toolkit in each of their organizations in detailed if there is a possibility to transfer the knowledge to more of their members.
One the second day evening participants had a wonderful social time singing and getting to know each other well which will help to develop a strong bond within the collective.On the 3rd day morning participants discussed further on the two major commitments which YMCA of Pamunugama made at the Global Disability Summit 2022. All agreed to work in achieving these two commitments and to consider those commitments as the common commitments of the collective in its future work.
Agreed commitments
1. We commit ourselves to work for social awareness to eliminate the attitudinal barriers created by myths and stigma rooted in the society which affect the people with disabilities negatively in Sri Lanka.
2. We commit ourselves to mobilize the civil society organizations and youth groups to come together with DPOs in bringing out improvements to the policies that enable the meaningful participation of people with disabilities in matters pertaining to them.
At the end of the seminar a Press Conference was held with a participation of several national media channels and printed media representatives. 4 delegates representing the participants chaired the head table in the press conference. During the press conference, delegates shared their experience from the seminar and the output of the seminar including the agreement among collective for further advocacy involvements. Journalists also question the situation of the people with disabilities in Sri Lanka as well as the issues pertaining to the implementation of human rights of the people with disabilities. YMCA of Pamunugama thank all the organizations for sending their delegates and Y Global and Atlas Alliance for providing support to make this event a success. We would like to extend a special thank to the media group who was with us from the beginning of the seminar as well as during the Press Conference.
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