KUALA LUMPUR: As COVID-19 continues to have wide-reaching impacts across the globe today, it is imperative for the global community to include persons with disabilities (PwDs) as part of the crisis response plan.
The United States (US) Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara said that the advocacy to consistently gather the PwDs and their viewpoints must be seen as important and crucial to simultaneously address their challenges due to the pandemic.
"In general, when a crisis happens, be it COVID-19, climate change or disaster, PwDs are often disproportionately impacted. In many ways, we are left behind and not seen.
"Our advocacy here now is to ensure PwDs are part of the conversations at the table and consider their perspectives. On top of that, the PwDs also could tap into some innovative ideas and values that they can bring forwards in terms of how they respond to a crisis.
"Hence, let's address them, bring them and let's make sure they're part of the table from the get-go, not as an afterthought," Sara told Bernama in an exclusive interview after she appeared on Bernama TV's programme 'Think Differently with Ras Adiba Radzi' held at the news agency's headquarters, here, today.
Earlier, she paid a courtesy call on Bernama Chairman Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi.
On the same development, Sara pointed out that social media platforms are impactful tools that could further increase the public's awareness on PwDs with various challenges, especially in the post-pandemic era today.
She said social media plays a huge role that must be utilised to bring forward more PwDs' voices, experiences and challenges on the ground.
"The challenge from getting into the space, from accessing information and challenges that we're actually not included and valued is very much across the board and therefore, how do we get society to hear those words from our system can be a powerful tool.
"Social media can also be a tool where we (PwDs) can also mobilise people. With the presence of all social media platforms we have today, we really need to think creatively about how we can bring that forward.
"As social media is about connecting and bringing things forward, I think this is where it's important on how we can craft the narrative," she added.
Sara, who was appointed by US President Joe Biden last year, is currently in Malaysia to meet with civil society, government, and international organisation representatives for discussions on addressing challenges facing persons with disabilities.
Previously, she travelled to Berlin, Germany, and attended the G7 Global Inclusion Summit early this month and later to Thailand to engage disabled person organisations and the provincial government on disability rights issues in Chiang Mai.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Sep 15 2022
As COVID-19 continues to have wide-reaching impacts across the globe today, it is imperative for the global community to include PwDs as part of the crisis response plan, the US Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara said.
Pelajar tahfiz perlu teroka bidang teknologi
Kira-kira 200,000 pelajar tahfiz di negara ini, perlu dipastikan untuk mempunyai kemampuan dan peluang menjadi tenaga penggerak kepada umat Islam Malaysia dalam meneroka bidang yang dahulu dilihat sebagai asing., tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Perpaduan rakyat prasyarat ekonomi mampan
Tidak semua negara Islam mempunyai ruang dan kesempatan untuk terus aman dan damai, dan mempunyai peluang untuk menikmati ekonomi yang kukuh dan berkembang seperti Malaysia, tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.
Tidak perlu tergesa-gesa tukar ke lesen B - JPJ
Pemegang Lesen Memandu Malaysia (LMM) Kelas B2 dan B1 tidak perlu tergesa-gesa mendaftar Program Khas Peralihan LLM Kelas B2/B1 Kepada LMM Kelas B kerana tiada had masa ditetapkan untuk permohonan.
KPWKM teruskan lapan inisiatif bantu warga emas
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM) akan terus menggerakkan lapan inisiatif utama dalam memenuhi keperluan jagaan dan sistem sokongan terhadap warga emas.
Warga emas maut ditikam anak kandung yang berhalusinasi
Seorang pesara guru maut ditikam anak kandungnya sendiri di sebuah rumah dekat Kampung Senaling, di sini, petang Sabtu.
Menurut Ketua Polis Daerah Kuala Pilah, Superintendan Amran Mohd Ghani, siasatan awal mendapati warga emas berusia 65 tahun itu cuba memujuk anak lelakinya yang juga pemegang kad orang kurang upaya (OKU) mental yang dikatakan mahu membunuh diri.
Menurut Ketua Polis Daerah Kuala Pilah, Superintendan Amran Mohd Ghani, siasatan awal mendapati warga emas berusia 65 tahun itu cuba memujuk anak lelakinya yang juga pemegang kad orang kurang upaya (OKU) mental yang dikatakan mahu membunuh diri.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 5 Oktober 2024.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Hezbollah lancar serangan peluru berpandu ke atas kompleks industri ketenteraan di utara Israel
Pergerakan Hezbollah di Lubnan berkata mereka telah melancarkan serangan peluru berpandu ke atas kemudahan ATA Defence Industries.
Tiada kaitan dengan pelantikan CEO MDEC, Anuar Fariz bukan adik saya - Fahmi
Menteri Komunikasi Fahmi Fadzil menyangkal dakwaan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) baharu Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil merupakan adiknya.
Israel lakukan persiapan untuk serang Iran - Laporan
Tentera Israel sedang bersiap untuk "tindakan balas besar-besaran dan ekstrem" terhadap Iran.
Jabatan OKU patut ada di semua kementerian - Penasihat Khas AS
Ia supaya suara golongan OKU lebih didengari dan kesejahteraan mereka akan dapat lebih diutamakan.