Preparations Advancing for Review of Disabilities Act

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is advancing the necessary steps to undertake a review of the Disabilities Act, which came into full effect on February 14, 2022.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the disclosure during a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday (February 11).

“We invite all Jamaicans to join in our commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, and we encourage them, as we move forward, to be educated and to give their recommendations,” he said.

The Disabilities Act provides a comprehensive framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Jamaica.

“Its primary objectives include promoting individual dignity, freedom of choice, and independence of persons with disabilities; ensuring that we are preventing discrimination, based on disability; and that we are fostering respect for their differences as integral members of our diverse population,” the Minister said.

The legislation also ensures persons with disabilities full and equal participation in all aspects of national life.

Mr. Charles indicated that this includes access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and participation in political and public life.

“These rights align with Jamaica’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of which Jamaica was proudly the first signatory on March 30, 2007,” the Minister said.

He informed that the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) has been pivotal in advising the Government and the disability sector, advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities and maintaining a confidential register.

The JCPD has also been raising public awareness, conducting research, monitoring implementation and providing legal assistance to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld.