By Tereza Jeremiah Chuei
At least twenty-one persons living with disabilities have been appointed as State Lawmakers in the 10 States according to Edmund Yakani the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO).
In a statement extended to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Yakani stated that, “Central Equatoria state, Eastern Equatoria state, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity state, Warrap State, Upper Nile state have one person with disabilities as a Parliamentarian while in Jonglei state two persons with disabilities appointed parliamentarians and Western Equatoria State and Lakes, five persons with disabilities were appointed as Parliamentarians”.
Meanwhile, the statement mentioned that the principle of inclusivity demanded by the spirit of the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) is factual when representatives of persons with disabilities are appointed as leaders and representatives in the government of the national unity at various levels adding that the country has twenty-one state parliamentarians from the persons with disabilities.
“CEPO congratulates those persons with disabilities who were appointed as state law makers and CEPO urge those appointed 21 persons with disabilities as state law makers to be close to their constituencies of persons with disabilities,” statement said.
However, CEPO appreciated the political parties that responded positively by appointing their state law makers from their members of persons with disabilities, citing that this proofs standing strong for zero discrimination against the person with disabilities in public life.
Earlier on CEPO in partnership with Light for the World had launched a campaign called Yellow Ribbon which aimed at securing appointment of persons with disabilities as State law makers (parliamentarians) for strengthening participation of persons with disabilities in decision making.