MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somalia women and Human Rights Affairs Minister, Deqa Yassin Hajji called upon the Upper House to pass the disability bill.
The bill which was unanimously approved by the Lower House of the People last month is aimed at establishing the national disability agency to advocate for the rights of handicapped persons in the country.
Speaking during session of the Upper House representatives on Thursday dedicated to discuss the crucial bill, Ms. Hajji stressed the need for the bill to be approved saying its impact will be witnessed in the next financial year.
“Apart from safeguarding the interest of our disable citizens, if approved the bill will allow us to set aside funds in 2019 national budget to cater for the needs of the handicapped,” she said.
The disability bill is on its first reading at Senate and once approve by the upper house, president will assents it into law. This will pave way for the establishment of independent national disability agency to lobby for the interest and well being of the disable persons in the country.
The Agency will be responsible for protection, job creation, education and among others for its members across the country.
With government funding it is also required to have branches or offices across regional states.
Human rights activists have praised the move saying its one step further for a country recovering from decades of civil strife.
President Farmajo has last week urged members of the two houses in the country to speed the approval of the bill in order to embark on its implementation process.
More than three decades of civil war in Somalia has contributed to the significant number of people with disabilities mainly in major cities that witnessed intense fighting from various interest groups.
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