Antigua and Barbuda (Commonwealth Union)_ The Human Rights Unit (HRU) of the Commonwealth Secretariat visited Antigua and Barbuda in order to examine the needs of individuals with disabilities and mental health issues and to help secure their participation in public policy and society, as well as to prioritize their rights. In 2016, Antigua and Barbuda ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and this needs assessment is part of their efforts to fulfill this commitment.
In an effort to create awareness on mental health, the Commonwealth Secretariat encouraged all member states to confirm that people with disabilities and mental health issues are both agents and beneficiaries of development, as their full and sincere participation is crucial for achieving a wealthy and just society as well as achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Shavana Haythornthwaite, head of the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, made the following statement upon her arrival in Antigua and Barbuda. According to her, disability is a cross-cutting issue that demands comprehensive, long-term strategies. She stated that Antigua and Barbuda have a strong history of protecting the rights of disabled people. The Human Rights Unit has visited the nation to assist the administration in identifying more sustainable initiatives it can take to make Antigua and Barbuda an accessible and inclusive society for all. “This needs assessment will provide important evidence based upon which we will develop, in collaboration with the government, a multi-year programme to strengthen frameworks to protect the rights of persons with disabilities,” she added.
Nearly 15% of the world’s population is disabled, and an estimated 1 billion individuals suffer from mental health disorders. Over a million people in the Caribbean live with some kind of impairment, and the region’s susceptibility to climate-related disasters poses a disproportionate danger to this population. According to a UN study, in the case of a major disaster, only 20% of people with disabilities could leave the place immediately and without difficulty. The Human Rights Unit’s planned project in Antigua and Barbuda will promote the inclusion of disability as a key subject in all emergency communications as well as promote the consultation and full participation of disabled people in the development and implementation of emergency response, disaster management, and disaster risk reduction plans.
Highlighting the significance of this initiative in Antigua & Barbuda, Haythornthwaite said: “The rights of persons with disabilities continue to be a priority for the Commonwealth Secretariat and this mission will help the Human Rights Unit to support the government of Antigua and Barbuda to build on its current achievements and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
