For the first time the Limpopo provincial government through LEDET will host a summit for disabled entrepreneurs under the theme “Reducing Economic Vulnerability of People with Disabilities and Releasing Human Capital” with the aim of ensuring that businesses of people with disabilities are provided with the necessary support to become successful.
The South African Constitution recognizes the right of persons with disabilities as equal citizens of the country, and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of disability. Barriers faced by persons with disabilities are, therefore, a detriment to society as a whole, and accessibility is necessary to achieve progress and development for all.
Accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities are fundamental rights recognized by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and are not only objectives, but also pre-requisites for the enjoyment of other rights. The CRPD seeks to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life and development.
It calls upon government departments to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to all aspects of society, on an equal basis with others, as well as to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers to accessibility. The summit will also establish an organized chamber of people living with disabilities.
The objectives of the summit are to amongst others:
• highlight challenges being experienced by businesses owned by persons with disabilities in exercising their rights as equal citizens;
• raise awareness of enabling mechanisms and opportunities that reduce the challenges and enable persons with disabilities to participate as equal citizens in mainstream economy;
• promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities in the mainstream economy;
• develop necessary skills for economic growth through businesses owned by people with disabilities and reach consensus on priorities for action during future engagements.
You are therefore invited to the summit scheduled as follows
Venue: Bolivia Lodge
Date: 23- 24 November 2017
Time: 9H00
Enquiries:
Burckels Napo
Tel: (015) 293 8526
Mobile: 071 474 8900
E-mail: NapoSB@ledet.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism
