Ref: 45/2013

On Monday, 24 June 2013, the Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights Unit at the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
(PCHR) organized, in cooperation with Al-Amal Rehabilitation Society – Rafah, a
workshop titled: “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Gaza
Strip: Reality and Challenges.”  The
workshop was held in the office of al-Amal Society in Rafah, and was attended
by more than 120 persons with disabilities and their families, and
representatives of rehabilitation centers for disabled persons in Rafah.

Abdallah Tubasy, from al-Amal Society,
opened the workshop, thanking PCHR for its efforts in organizing this workshop,
which contributes to raising the awareness of the local community on the rights
of persons with disabilities.  Azzam
Shaath, a researcher at PCHR’s Economic and Social Rights Unit, thanked al-Amal
Society, and noted that this workshop was organized as part of cooperation and
coordination between PCHR and rehabilitation organizations in the Gaza Strip, and
as part of efforts exerted to enhance the rights of disabled persons in the
Gaza Strip and lobby for the application of the Law of the Palestinian Disabled
Rights No. 4/1999.  Shaath attributed the
deterioration of economic and social rights of disabled persons to the
non-application of the law of the Palestinian Disabled Rights 4/1999, although
it was enacted 14 years ago.  He also
addressed the impacts of the ongoing political split in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt), which aggravated the suffering of disabled persons
in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the absence of monitoring and
follow-up mechanisms for the implementation of the law. He further criticized
the Palestinian governments in Ramallah and Gaza for their lack of commitment
towards implementing the law through administrative, political and financial
measures that would contribute to the promotion of civil and political rights
of disabled persons, as well as their economic, social and cultural rights.

For their part, disabled persons and
members of their families spoke of their daily suffering, including the
disastrous deterioration at the level of their enjoyment of their rights which
are ensured under the Palestinian Disabled Law, especially in the areas of
health services, rehabilitation and employment, educational services and social
allocations which are aimed at protecting these persons against poverty.

At the end of the workshop, participants
called upon the Palestinian Authority to immediately enforce the Palestinian
Disabled Law, and issue the disabled card as stated in the law.  They also called for the development of an
enforcement mechanism that can ensure the immediate enforcement of the disabled
persons’ right to employment. The law requires that at least 5% of employees in
government, private and civil society institutions must be from disabled
persons.  Furthermore, they requested exempting
disabled persons and their families from paying for health services they
receive, including medicines and medical reports fees.  The law requires
the provision of free health services to disabled persons and their families.