Press Releases

NOWPDP celebrates "Enabling the Differently-Abled"

Karachi, December 3, 2009 – The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated on 03 December 2009 by the Children's Museum for Peace & Human Rights (CMPHR) and Network of Organisations Working for People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) – an initiative of the Aga Khan Council for Pakistan along with other partnering agencies. Over 300 students from mainstream and special education schools across Karachi along with representatives of Civil Society Organisations attended the event titled "Enabling the Differently-Abled" where the accomplishments of children with disabilities were celebrated by awarding promising students. The event also provided a platform for recognition of the strong youth support for the ratification of the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Special awards were distributed among school students for their efforts in collecting 941,924 signatures on a petition to the Government of Pakistan. Twelve schools were given special awards for collecting more than 25,000 signatures each.

The Chief Guest for the event, Shazia Marri, Provincial Minister for Information while addressing the audience said that "The time has come for us to all move forward and promote the cause of people with disabilities." She further added that the dire situation of persons with disabilities all across the world including Pakistan requires more attention so that the unique needs of special people could be catered to. She applauded the efforts of the Network of Organisations Working for People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) and its partners for this event, Children’s Museum for Peace and Human Rights (CMPHR), AURA, Special Olympics Pakistan, JS Academy for the Deaf, Institute of Behavioral Psychology, Show You Care, Ida Rieu School for Deaf and Blind, and Karachi Vocational Training Centre for providing a platform for the accomplishments of children with disabilities in Pakistan to be acknowledged
The event also marked a celebration of youth power as students with disabilities had collected about one million signatures for the ratification of the rights of people with disabilities, which would be presented by NOWPDP to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Government of Pakistan. Earlier this year, NOWPDP had submitted almost seven million signatures to the Government of Pakistan..

According to the World Bank report, nearly 3.2 million people in Pakistan are disabled out of which 1.37 million are females and 1.99 million males. While 28 percent of people with disabilities are literate, only 14 percent are employed and more than 70 percent rely on their family members for financial support.

Enabling the Differently-Abled provided an opportunity to the mostly forgotten persons of our society to nurture their innate desire to contribute and participate in the social aspects of life. It was highlighted during the event that the talent of such people needed to be recognised and appreciated and that they should be given equal rights to live with respect in our society.


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Editors Note:

Network of Organisations Working for Persons with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP) is an initiative of His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Pakistan, launched in May 2008. NOWPDP aims to make a significant difference to the quality of life and welfare of persons with disabilities through the provision of strategic support augmenting the functioning of organisations working for, and with, such persons across Pakistan. NOWPDP is a non-profit organisation and conduct its programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender. In a short span of one year, it has been able to attract the membership of almost 150 Civil Society and Disabled Persons Organisations across the country. NOWPDP works with the objectives to create space and voice for persons with disabilities and the organizations working for them, create a greater level of awareness about the rights and needs of people with disabilities and provide networking grounds for member organisations.

The Children’s Museum for Peace and Human Rights (CMPHR) was originally known as the Human Rights Education Programme (HREP) that was launched in 1995. Following the success of HREP’s initial activities with schools and children, it was decided that a museum where children were able to engage in social, cultural and educational activities focusing on social issues would be built. The purpose of this museum is to function as the first proactive children’s institution in Pakistan. Under the auspices of this ‘Building Project,’ HREP was renamed the Children’s Museum for Peace and Human Rights (CMPHR). The CMPHR has a network of students from over 350 schools across Pakistan and also runs campaigns on various social issues. http://www.cmphr.org/

For further information, please contact:

Salimah Shiraj
Communications Coordinator
Department of Communications
His Highness Prince Aga Khan
Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Pakistan
Email: salimah.shiraj@akcpk.org