April 20, 2011
Editorial (excerpts)
We now have to decide whether we want to continue with the type of society in which disabled people are forced to put up with inconveniences and discrimination or to establish a society in which everyone, regardless of disabilities, is guaranteed her/his own independent life in each community.
When a society places importance on the rights of the disabled, the society is more likely to respect the dignity of all human beings. Faced with the growth of an aging society, we all are aware that everyone may develop disabilities in old age.
The government has drafted a bill to revise the Basic Act for Disabled Persons in preparation for Japan’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities. However, the disabled in Japan are criticizing this bill for being far from meeting minimum standards.
The Convention adopted in 2006 at the UN General Assembly, the first treaty on human rights of the 21st century, calls for equality and participation of persons with disabilities in society.
In order to make full use of this treaty, it is necessary for Japan to revise relevant laws.
The Democratic Party of Japan government late 2009 set up a taskforce and promised a reform of the system of welfare programs for the disabled. Persons with disabilities and their families accounted for more than half of the taskforce members. The government carried out discussions with them in regard to a revision of the Basic Act at taskforce meetings.
However, the government bill fell far short of international standards on human rights called for by the UN treaty and has not reflected recommendations made by the taskforce.
The bill uses the phrase “as much as possible” for describing the guaranteed rights of disabled to live independently in the community.
Hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are currently forced to live in care facilities because of insufficient assistance available for integration into community life. Everyone wants to decide where to live on their own decision. That is a common human right but is not applied to people with disabilities.
The government should take the position that people with disabilities are also entitled to fundamental human rights and should not see them only as recipients of welfare programs.
We now have to decide whether we want to continue with the type of society in which disabled people are forced to put up with inconveniences and discrimination or to establish a society in which everyone, regardless of disabilities, is guaranteed her/his own independent life in each community.
When a society places importance on the rights of the disabled, the society is more likely to respect the dignity of all human beings. Faced with the growth of an aging society, we all are aware that everyone may develop disabilities in old age.
The government has drafted a bill to revise the Basic Act for Disabled Persons in preparation for Japan’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities. However, the disabled in Japan are criticizing this bill for being far from meeting minimum standards.
The Convention adopted in 2006 at the UN General Assembly, the first treaty on human rights of the 21st century, calls for equality and participation of persons with disabilities in society.
In order to make full use of this treaty, it is necessary for Japan to revise relevant laws.
The Democratic Party of Japan government late 2009 set up a taskforce and promised a reform of the system of welfare programs for the disabled. Persons with disabilities and their families accounted for more than half of the taskforce members. The government carried out discussions with them in regard to a revision of the Basic Act at taskforce meetings.
However, the government bill fell far short of international standards on human rights called for by the UN treaty and has not reflected recommendations made by the taskforce.
The bill uses the phrase “as much as possible” for describing the guaranteed rights of disabled to live independently in the community.
Hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are currently forced to live in care facilities because of insufficient assistance available for integration into community life. Everyone wants to decide where to live on their own decision. That is a common human right but is not applied to people with disabilities.
The government should take the position that people with disabilities are also entitled to fundamental human rights and should not see them only as recipients of welfare programs.
