Fatshimetrie, the leading magazine for international news, takes you to the heart of major reforms for people living with disabilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the country resolutely moves towards a more inclusive society, the initiatives taken by President Félix Tshisekedi arouse admiration and hope.
Since becoming president in 2019, Félix Tshisekedi has made the issue of disability a national priority. By providing the sector with a dedicated ministerial portfolio, he sent a strong signal: people with disabilities deserve a central place in Congolese society. The appointment of a person living with a disability to head this ministry illustrates the government’s commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities.
The Minister Delegate in charge of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable people, Irène Esambo, presented the progress made by the DRC in this area at a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. An organic law protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities is being drafted, while a dedicated administration is being set up. These concrete measures demonstrate the Congolese government’s determination to guarantee access to fundamental rights for all its citizens, without distinction.
The meeting organized by the United Nations Global Fund for Persons with Disabilities, in partnership with international organizations and Member States, highlighted the importance of including persons with disabilities in international development. The theme chosen, “Shaping an Inclusive Future: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, resonates as a call to action for all stakeholders involved. The objective is clear: to accelerate change, fully integrate persons with disabilities into society and prepare the ground for the World Disability Summit to be held in Germany in 2025.
By providing an international platform for this essential cause, the DRC is setting an example and paving the way for collective awareness. The inclusion of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of social justice, it is also an imperative to build a more just and equitable future for all. By placing the rights of persons with disabilities at the heart of its action, the Congolese government is charting a path towards a more inclusive society, where diversity is valued and celebrated.
Through these ambitious reforms, the DRC is sending a message of hope and solidarity to the world. By laying the foundations for a more just and united society, the country is part of a dynamic of progress and emancipation for all its citizens, without exceptionThe future looks more inclusive and brighter for people living with disabilities in the DRC, thanks to strong political will and unprecedented collective mobilization.