By Bakah Derick
The Representative of the United Nations Center for Human Rights and Democracy (UNCHRD) in Central Africa has emphasized the need to respect the recently ratified United Nations (UN) convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in the North West Region and elsewhere in the country.
Fonyuy Franklin Kiven made the remarks at the first ever regional session of the Committee for the Socio-economic re-adaptation and re-insertion of persons with disabilities (CONRHA) in the region on Thursday 9 November 2023 in Bamenda.
Responding to The Hilltop Mail Concerns on the non inclusive nature of infrastructure hosting UN agencies in the region as they deliver services within the ongoing armed conflict and the reconstruction plan, the UNCHRD rep. noted that Cameroon only ratified the convention in 2021 thus is not answerable to the period before but moving forward, all public meetings especial those organized by the UN and agencies must be in inclusive infrastructure.
"It is the policy of the United Nations that everything the UN does in support of
government policy and government programing is inclusive and respectful of
human rights. This is a core principle and so if at any point there are lapses, the
UN has the responsibility to draw the attention of the government that there are
lapses especially with regards to the participation of PWDs..." Kiven said