KNPD receives three reports of discrimination every day

The Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Oliver Scicluna, said that the KNPD still receives three reports of discrimination every day.

During his speech at Parliamentary session for persons with disability, Scicluna said that this number was still questionable, as there are still a lot of individuals that do not report or even realize that they are victims of discrimination.

He called on the authorities to enable the commission to take action against those that discriminate against persons with disability. “We need a commission with teeth, that can enforce and take action when cases of discrimination are reported”, he added.  

He said that persons with disability are “neither an extension nor a minority in our society”.

Scicluna said he hoped that in the future, Parliament will also be willing to include people that have some form of disability. “We don’t want you to pity us. Give us what we deserve because we have a right for it.”

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia opened the 12th parliamentary session for persons with disability by explaining that the theme for this year is accessability of persons with disability to technology. He said that TV and streaming of Parliamentary sessions also show that Malta is making good progress.

Steven Mulvaney, the President of the Deaf Malta Association, said that during a visit at the European Parliament, they experienced how a Parliament can function for all persons with various disabilities.

He thanked all those who were involved in the pilot project to start using subtitles in Maltese television drama.

University lecturer Andrew Azzopardi said that the fact that we are celebrating this day means that we still have a long way to go. I call on politicians not to use this delicate sector as part of some political game. 

Many of those who participated in the session called on the authorities for more access both for basic amenities and places of entertainment like discos.

In his intervention, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Dar tal-Providenza, said that the paternalist mentality of our society must change to a society that listens more. “Our pain is that there are persons with disability that need a home but we cannot cater for them,” he said. He welcomed the decision to create homes for persons with disability at the centre of the community.

Fr Martin said that Transport Malta should meet with families of persons with disability to discuss and eventually address the difficulties faced by persons who have mobility problems.

Prime Minister disappointed at lack of attendance for session

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat expressed his disappointment at the lack of attendance by fellow MPs for tonight’s Parliamentary session.  He said that this was a far more interesting discussion than what is usually hosted by this Parliament.

He praised former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi for pushing inclusion in the educational sector. Muscat noted that there was still a problem when it comes to the period when persons with disability leave school. “I am known for being pro-business. But I am still disappointed at the lack of companies that are finding it hard to employ persons with disability.”

Muscat added that the political will to overcome the challenges did not only remain the same, but grew even stronger. “Despite statistics, we have to realize that there is still a small percentage that is not able to work,” the Prime Minister concluded.