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International Day of Persons with Disabilities
“280,000 workshop employees experience their fully individual and personal human dignity and participation in working life in workshops for adapted work”, said Günter Mosen, Chairman of the Federal Association of Workshops for Adapted Work, in Berlin. “The time has come that vocational training certifications become reality, even though the current duration of the vocational training is definitely too short.”
But what about human rights? In 2006, the United Nations decided to formulate the human rights of disabled persons for the first time under international law in a contract. Since March 2009, this convention is effective in Germany, too.
Only education and work make the participation in society for all persons possible. According to the statistics of the German Federal Labour Agency, in November 2009 there were exactly 164,376 severely disabled persons unemployed. This means 6,000 more jobless persons with disabilities than in November 2008. On the other hand, the figures of all gainfully employed sank by 13,000 persons. Here must be taken into consideration that the Federal Labour Agency does not add the jobless persons who are not attended by the Agency to its figures. “Without these statistical tricks the figures of the jobless person would have risen”, declared Markus Kurth, the spokesman on matters concerning persons with disabilities of the party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen.
Disabled persons are confronted with visible and invisible barriers during their daily routine. They have to deal with fear of contact and prejudice. The image of disabled persons is often related to restriction. Many of them want and can work, if they are given the opportunity to do so.
“The occupation of disabled persons is in reality for sure an organizational, technical and communicative challenge. But during the last years, a lot has been accomplished. The paradigm change towards more self-determination and participation of disabled persons in society and working life finds itself in the labour market policy”, said Heinrich Alt of the Federal Labour Agency. He is convinced that the Federal Labour Agency will soon be able to offer a comprehensive care geared towards the needs of each person who is physically or mentally disabled.
The 3rd of December has been the International Day of Disabled Persons since 1992, when it was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The worldwide largest minority shall receive attention on that day. After all, ten per cent of the world population are considered to be disabled. In Germany, there are about eight million disabled persons.
But what about human rights? In 2006, the United Nations decided to formulate the human rights of disabled persons for the first time under international law in a contract. Since March 2009, this convention is effective in Germany, too.
Only education and work make the participation in society for all persons possible. According to the statistics of the German Federal Labour Agency, in November 2009 there were exactly 164,376 severely disabled persons unemployed. This means 6,000 more jobless persons with disabilities than in November 2008. On the other hand, the figures of all gainfully employed sank by 13,000 persons. Here must be taken into consideration that the Federal Labour Agency does not add the jobless persons who are not attended by the Agency to its figures. “Without these statistical tricks the figures of the jobless person would have risen”, declared Markus Kurth, the spokesman on matters concerning persons with disabilities of the party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen.
Disabled persons are confronted with visible and invisible barriers during their daily routine. They have to deal with fear of contact and prejudice. The image of disabled persons is often related to restriction. Many of them want and can work, if they are given the opportunity to do so.
“The occupation of disabled persons is in reality for sure an organizational, technical and communicative challenge. But during the last years, a lot has been accomplished. The paradigm change towards more self-determination and participation of disabled persons in society and working life finds itself in the labour market policy”, said Heinrich Alt of the Federal Labour Agency. He is convinced that the Federal Labour Agency will soon be able to offer a comprehensive care geared towards the needs of each person who is physically or mentally disabled.
The 3rd of December has been the International Day of Disabled Persons since 1992, when it was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The worldwide largest minority shall receive attention on that day. After all, ten per cent of the world population are considered to be disabled. In Germany, there are about eight million disabled persons.
