The United Nations declared December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 1992. The Day is an annual event to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society. This year's theme for the Day is: "Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress". It emphasizes creating societies that are inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities and support their advancement and social progress.
In Bangladesh, unfortunately persons with disabilities are excluded from many sectors, which is totally unacceptable. In this regard, while contacted, a visually impaired lady named SwopnaAktar (32) of Patuakhali, one of the coastal district in Bangladesh said, "Though the rights of people with disabilities are human rights, but the people with disabilities in Bangladesh specially the women are left behind including employment and other arenas. So there are many educated women like me unemployed and living a life with plights and double burden due to poverty, social norms, superstitions and negative mindset."
The human rights of persons with disabilities are guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). It ensures they have the same rights as all other people, including equality, non-discrimination, and full participation in society.
Key rights include access to education and healthcare, political participation, accessibility to infrastructure, and freedom from violence, abuse, and exploitation. The human rights-based approach aims to remove social and physical barriers and change discriminatory attitudes.
Importance of making Policy For Media: UNESCO highlighted in its publications that editorial policies towards equitable media programming are greatly important. The Media can improve their capacity to serve diverse audiences, including persons with disabilities, by adopting inclusive editorial policies and providing equitable media programming. It helps inclusiveness in the Media workplace and the creation of pluralistic societies.
In fact, policies on disability and gender diversity in Media are important because they promote fair representation, challenge stereotypes, and reflect the full diversity of society. It ensures marginalized groups have a voice and are not overlooked. So the Media policy must be gender-friendly and friendly to the people with disabilities as well.
This can be achieved through comprehensive policies within Media organizations, practical training for journalists on these diverse communities. And fostering a newsroom culture that genuinely embeds inclusivity into editorial and reporting practices. A commitment to portraying individuals as rights-holders, rather than objects of pity or charity, is also fundamental.
World Bank mentions, globally, seven in ten persons with disabilities are inactive, that is, neither in employment nor unemployed, compared with four in ten persons without disabilities. It is estimated that one in five women live with a disability. Most women with disabilities face limitations and barriers in society related to the multiple and intersecting identities across all contexts. Those are ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds, as well as their location and related status, age or marital status.
Recently,the rights-based research organization in Bangladesh VOICE organized a workshop in the capital jointly with UNESCO, titled: "Advancing Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Media: Policy and Editorial Practices."I had the opportunity to join the event. Editors, reporters, newsroom staff, representatives from human resources departments, and members of journalist associations participated in the workshop.
At the event, experts and participants discussed practical aspects on advancing diversity, equality and inclusion in Media, policy and editorial practices. They have given emphasized to a practical guideline that is needed to ensure equal rights, employment opportunities, participation, and representation for persons with disabilities and all gender diverse people in the media. And in news coverage based on fairness. They further added that the guideline will provide Media professionals with various directions.
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE, said, "Most news organizations still do not have clear policies regarding disability and gender diversity. As a result, diversity and inclusion are not adequately reflected in news presentation, recruitment, workplace environment, and decision-making processes."
"The final policy will be developed based on the opinions and experiences shared by the workshop participants, and it will serve as a practical and supportive document for media professionals,"Ahmed Swapan Mahmud added.
The discussants observed that any development is not possible without inclusion. Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities and gender-diverse people in the Media would help remove prevailing negative perceptions in society. That plays a role in reducing discrimination.
At the workshop, participants highlighted the need for fair representation of persons with disabilities and people of all gender identities in news, accessible news platforms, inclusive policies in recruitment, human resources and favorable workplace environments.
The writer is an environmentalist
