Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip has reaffirmed the Welsh
Government’s commitment to reaching targets aiming to improve the
lives of disabled people living in Wales.
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out an
ambitious agenda for transforming the world for people, planet,
and prosperity by 2030.
Wales is the only nation – so far – to have translated the UN
Sustainable Development Goals into law.
The theme of this year’s International Day of Disabled People
(December 3) is: "United in action to rescue and
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by
persons with disabilities".
Speaking during a visit to Disability Wales and British Deaf
Association offices to mark International Day of Disabled People,
the Minister said:
“We share this ambition to achieve sustainable development goals
for disabled people across Wales. We have built them into our
decision making and they influenced our drafting of the
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
“We are making decisions in the interests of both current and
future generations and drawing on the talents of everyone to
enable our nation to flourish.”
She added: “Visiting Disability Wales and
British Deaf Association has been an opportunity to meet staff at
both organisations who are striving to dismantle barriers
experienced by disabled people across Wales.
“It has been a privilege to hear about how they are supporting
disabled people and how they have embedded the Social Model of
Disability into their work.”
Rhian Davies from Disability Wales said: “We are
pleased to see the Welsh Government joining the international
community in championing the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The Sustainable Development Goals and the aims of the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People are vital in
ensuring that we achieve full equality for disabled people in
Wales.”
She added: “Today has been a great opportunity
to meet the Minister and discuss our role in advocating for the
rights of disabled people through a pandemic and now a cost of
living crisis, whilst also striving for a more inclusive Wales
which guarantees independent living for all.”
Rebecca Mansell of British Deaf Association (BDA)
added: “We are honoured and delighted to have the
Minister visit us today. Our Deaf Community in Wales continues to
be oppressed due to widespread barriers in accessing information
and communication in British Sign Language (BSL).
“As the national representative organisation for BSL under the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UN CRPD), the BDA advocates for equality and rights
for the Welsh Deaf Community.”
The Disability Rights Taskforce was set up in 2021 following the
‘Locked Out: Liberating disabled people’s lives and rights in
Wales beyond COVID-19’ report.
The Taskforce’s purpose is to define key goals and the actions
required to achieve improvements, which Welsh Government, the
wider public service and disabled people will work together to
deliver.
The taskforce is made up of various working groups, which explore
the challenges disabled people face and works towards our
ambition of a more equal Wales. All the reports published from
the working groups are co-produced with disabled people.
Notes to editors
Pic captions:
- Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip with Disability Wales and
British Deaf Association staff
- Sbarc/Spark offices in Cardiff where Disability Wales
and British Deaf Association are based
The theme of the 2023 International Day of Disabled People
is: "United in action to rescue and achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with
disabilities".
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled People
was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly
resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an
understanding of disability and mobilise support for the dignity,
rights and well-being of disabled people. It also seeks to
increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of
disabled people in every aspect of political, social, economic
and cultural life.
The main programme of the observance of the International Day of
Disabled People at the UN Headquarters in New York will include
the Opening, panel discussions and cultural events. Member
States, civil society organisations and the private sector are
welcome to organise their own events to celebrate the
International Day to raise awareness and promote the rights and
perspectives of disabled people around the world.
The Taskforce brings together people with lived experience, Welsh
Government Policy Leads and representative organisations to
identify the issues and barriers that affect the lives of many
disabled people. The Taskforce established a prioritisation group
to identify the key priorities for its programme of work to be
addressed through the development of working groups. The
following workstreams have been identified as priority areas for
the programme of work:
- Embedding and Understanding of the Social Model of Disability
(across Wales)
- Access to Services (including Communications and Technology)
- Independent Living: Social Care
- Independent Living: Health
- Travel
- Employment and Income
- Affordable and Accessible Housing
- Children and Young People
- Access to Justice
- Wellbeing
