Loading
Loading
Discover our outreach programs designed to promote awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Since 2007 when Namibia ratified the UNCRDP Namibia has been duty-bound to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in all spheres of their lives. Namibia is part of the international forum where issues of disability are discussed. It is therefore of paramount importance that we raise awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities in all corners of this country. It is on that basis that NDCN moves the celebration of this day 10 June each year from one region to another to ensure that each Region takes ownership in the advancements of the rights of persons with disabilities. The National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) has been established under the act of 26 of 2004 with the mandate of monitoring the implementation of the National Policy on Disabilities. As of 2012, NDCN has been the leading organizer of the National Disability Week on 10 June each year. Since 10 June 2023 is on a Saturday, the celebration will take place on 05-07 March 2024 in the Oshana region with the specific venue still to be decided. The purpose for celebrating the day arose from the launch of the Continental Plan of Action for the African Decade Plan of Persons with Disabilities by the then Namibian First Prime Minister, His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob on the 1st of June 2000. The nation and in particular persons with disabilities celebrate the achievements of the Disability Sector through the years. Furthermore, the disability fraternity raises awareness of the rights and dignities of persons with disabilities among the various communities. The visibility of persons with disabilities in their communities plays a huge role in ensuring that they become equal members and active participants in their communities’ developmental agendas. The communities must respect the rights and dignities of persons with disabilities and must ensure that persons with disabilities actively participate in the affairs of their communities and of the country at large.
Namibia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007. The UNCRPD therefore places a duty on Namibia to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in all spheres. This is why 10 June is earmarked in Namibia as the National Disability Day. The purpose for hosting the day arose from the launch of the Continental Plan of Action for the African Decade Plan for Persons with Disabilities by the then Namibian First Prime Minister, His Excellency the late Dr. Hage Geingob on 01 June 2000. It is therefore of paramount importance that we raise awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities in all corners of the country. It is against this background that the NDCN hosts this event from one region to another to ensure that each region takes ownership of the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities.
The National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) as per the National Disability Council Act, 2004 (No. 26 of 2004), under section 3, is mandated to monitor the implementation of the National Policy on Disability; identify provisions in any law that may hinder the implementation of the National Policy on Disability and make a recommendation in that regard. Additionally, section 17 stipulates that every Executive Director of a Government Ministry must, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, submit or cause to be submitted to the Council a report on the implementation of the National Policy on Disability of the Local Authority of which he or she is responsible for. The NDCN fulfils this role by rolling out the Disability Monitoring Report (DMRT) on an annual basis. Furthermore, the purpose of this reporting exercise is a legal obligation as stated in the National Disability Council Act, 2004 (No. 26 of 2004), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), and other related international treaties.
The Namibia Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) is spearheading the development of the Namibian Disability Accessibility Standards in partnership with the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI). This initiative aims to establish comprehensive standards ensuring accessibility for all persons with disabilities in public buildings, infrastructure, and in all sectors of society. The primary objective is to ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.