UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

11/16/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/16/2021 07:53

Zimbabwe’s Dialogue Committee on ending stigma and discrimination, breaking the cycle of poverty and marginalisation of persons with disabilities to hold inaugural meeting

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in partnership with International Labour Organisation (ILO) Regional Office will host the first Zimbabwean meeting for the Project-based Dialogue Committee on Disability Stigma and Discrimination for the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Multi-country Project titled "Ending Stigma and Discrimination - Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Marginalization of Persons with Disabilities in Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe" (2021-2023). The Dialogue meeting follows the project's inception meeting that was held with stakeholders from the region that took place from 13-14 July 2021. The inaugural Zimbabwe Dialogue Committee meeting will be held on 17 November 2021 in Harare.

The project Dialogue Committee is a multi-stakeholder team, whose an overall objective is to guide the implementation of the project over the next two years.

This first Zimbabwe UNPRPD Stigma and Discrimination project Dialogue Committee meeting participants will include at least 20 nominated representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as well as the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, TVET institutions, National Commission for UNESCO, Umbrella Organisations - National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCH) and Federation of Organizations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities such as Deaf Women Included, Autism Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Albino Association, Employers' Organisations, Human Rights Commissions, Academia, UNRCO ,UNESCO and ILO among others. The Zimbabwe dialogue meeting will discuss the Terms of Reference for the Zimbabwe Dialogue Committee, work plan of the regional project as well as the perspectives of the diverse stakeholders on strengthening disability inclusion in TVET instructions and work spaces.
This unique Multi-Country UNPRPD Project is funded by the UNPRPD MPTF.

Its overall objectives in the 4 countries are to:

  • Develop and test hands-on models and tools that can efficiently help institutions and individuals fight prejudices and stereotypes that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing skills development and employment,
  • Contribute to eliminating the cycle of poverty and marginalization that exists amongst persons by developing models and tools to fight such a widespread phenomenon, and fostering exchanges of good practices and experiences among the four countries involved, and beyond. The TVET institutions and learning environments, as well as enterprises have to be more inclusive, as both are important levers of emancipation.