Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah to address ILO in Geneva

Accra, 3 December 2003

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, Ghana’s world-renowned advocate for the rights of disabled people, is to address the International Labour Organisation’s event on “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” to mark the annual observance of the UN International Day of Disabled Persons on Monday 3 December in Geneva.

3 December is observed annually as the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP) since 1992. It provides opportunities for Governments, organizations of disabled persons and society as a whole to focus upon and take stock of the gains to be made from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

This year’s theme is based on the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others. On this occasion, ILO offices both in Geneva and around the world will work together to raise the visibility of the barriers preventing persons with disabilities from full participation in the labour market and highlight efforts to overcome these barriers, focusing, in particular, on good practice and collaboration among key stakeholders—government, workers’ and employers’ groups, Disabled Persons Organizations and other NGOs.

On the International Day of Disabled Persons, The ILO will launch a report entitled “The Right to Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities” by Dr Arthur O’Reilly”. The report has been translated into over 10 languages.

According to this new ILO report, The Right to Decent Work of Persons with Disabilities, although much has been accomplished in recent years to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, a majority continues to suffer violations of their rights. In the world of work, they tend to experience high unemployment, underemployment, have lower earnings than persons without disabilities and often drop out of the labour market completely. Yet, there is a growing awareness that people with disabilities represent enormous, untapped economic potential; that they can make a valuable contribution to national economies.

Over the following decades, important international instruments in relation to the right to work of persons with disabilities have been introduced. These have included several ILO instruments such as Convention No. 159 on the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons (1983), the Human Resources Development Recommendation No. 195 (2004) and the Code of Practice on Managing Disability in the Workplace (2001).

Another chief international instrument is the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006. It provides a platform to enable all stakeholders to move together forward in ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others. These principles of the new UN Convention are in line with relevant ILO standards, including ILO Convention No. 159.

In June 2006, almost one year after the release of Emmanuel's Gift, an award-winning, inspirational documentary showcasing the hope and vision of disabled athlete Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Persons with Disability (PWD) bill. According to CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation) this landmark legislation marks a major step forward, given Ghana's history of pervasive discrimination against people with disabilities.

"Thanks to the courage shown by Emmanuel in refusing to accept the status quo, and the movement born from his quest for change, for the first time in Ghana's history, a society with equal opportunity for all is foreseen." CAF noted that Ghana's PWD legislation, similar to that of the US Americans with Disability Act provides persons with disabilities with accessibility to public places, employment, and transportation, along with other rights. Passage of the bill will lead to the creation of PWD desks at employment centers nationwide and also create the National Council on Persons with Disability, which would oversee the implementation of some of the national programs for persons with disabilities.

However, the bill has a transitional period, which provides for a ten-year moratorium because of the massive investment needed to make existing public places disability-friendly.

About Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is a disabled man born 1977 in Ghana. In 2005 Yeboah starred as himself in the documentary Emmanuel's Gift which tells the story of his life and exploits.

Yeboah was born without a tibia in his right leg. He struggled to overcome the belief in Ghana that a physically disabled had been cursed by a deity. His father deserted his family upon learning of Emmanuel's disability, leaving Emmanuel and his family without a source of income. He refused to beg for money, but instead went to the capitial, Accra, to take a job shining shoes. He applied for a grant in order to get a bicycle, and proceeded to bike across Ghana with one leg.

Emmanuel has received various awards and recognition for his courage and bravery. In 2006 he established EEFSA (Emmanuel Educational Fund and Sports Academy) and continues his dream of alleviating the plight of the disabled in Ghana.

Contact Kobina Andoh Amoakwa SOS Networx Accra, Ghana Tel / Fax: +233 21 77 18 78 Email: kobbyandoh@sosnetworx.com URL: http://emmanuelsdream.typepad.com/