Not enough!

NOT enough attention is being paid to those Civil Society Organisations (CSO) which are the technocrats in their field of attaining civil rights for marginalised groups.

This is the view of the President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD), Maria Holder-Small, who also believes that the Caribbean region is not immune to inequality, and governments have to factor in the needs of the marginalised sectors of its society.

The President made this declaration as she delivered remarks at yesterday’s opening of the LIVITY Project, held at the Hilton Hotel.

She said were it not for the tremendous support of agencies like the European Union, the standard of discrimination for most of these sectors would probably drop off of the Universal Human Rights Index.

“I welcome you to Barbados. I imagine that like the Barbados Council for the Disabled you are all faced with similar issues and challenges of being representatives of sectors of society that eat, breathe and sleep discrimination and exclusion.

“Our fight, which is aimed at decreasing or eliminating inequity; promoting inclusiveness of disabilities; and establishing environments that are accessible to persons with disabilities, are all issues that require values that are the principles of social justice, and are no different to those that all CSO’s fight for,” she said.

Holder-Small also indicated that the Barbados Council for the Disabled is certainly moving in the right direction at this time, as they seek to join their partners within the region and the Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit in addressing the gaps and exclusionary practices that prohibit marginalised groups from participating in decision-making processes at the political and social levels.

“As the umbrella body for the 22 organisations with 42 years of existence, the Barbados Council for the Disabled have certainly made some inroads towards achieving its goals. We recognise that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are encouraged by the opportunities and attention that the European Union is paying to our region with regard to vulnerability of its people.

“This type of support can only strengthen our position, to gain the respect and inclusion that would enable persons with disabilities to partner with CSO’s and other sectors of society, in breaking down those barriers that exclude them from being active participants and to eventually become non-dependent on the State,” Holder-Small said.

The LIVITY Project, which is a joint effort between the Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, BCD, and the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), was designed to meaningfully address marginalisation, discrimination and exclusion of persons with disabilities, LGBTI Caribbean citizens, women, girls, youth and the elderly in national and regional decision-making processes through enhancing capacity and participation. (AH)