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UFS International Conference on Disability Rights advances inclusion and equality

09 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied

Disability Conference 2024 — Empowering change: Advocates and experts unite at the UFS Conference on Disability Rights to foster inclusion and equality for all.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) through its Free State Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) and Counterpart International, recently hosted the International Conference on Disability Rights from 24-26 April 2024. This significant event not only convened experts and advocates but also marked the launch of the Disability Rights Unit within the Faculty of Law.

Themed “Embracing Inclusion and Equality: A Perspective on Disability Rights Transformation", the conference served as a platform for insightful discussions and presentations aimed at fostering a more inclusive society.

Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law, emphasised the importance of the newly established Disability Rights Unit, stating, “The Disability Rights Unit will pave the way for promotion and protection of disability rights in our society.”

Martie Miranda, Head of CUADS, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the crucial role of such initiatives in advancing disability rights. “While CUADS provides holistic student support to students with disabilities, the Disability Rights Unit will provide for leverage in terms of access as their fundamental human right to optimally participate equally to their peers.”

Lessons from Mozambican disability legislation

Felisberto Elija Nhanenge and Jytte Nhanenge from Mozambique shed light on community inclusion through an examination of Mozambican disability legislation. Despite strides in policy, challenges persist in ensuring full societal participation for people with disabilities. The presentation highlighted the systemic barriers hindering access to education, healthcare, transportation, and employment. Moreover, it drew attention to the underlying influence of Western paradigms, emphasising the need for a holistic worldview to address entrenched biases and promote inclusivity.

Barriers to inclusion: The case of “unsound mind” provisions

Dr Dianah Msipa from the University of Pretoria delved into the legal hurdles faced by individuals with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities due to “unsound mind” provisions in African legislation. These provisions, found in several countries, restrict fundamental rights such as voting, property ownership, and personal liberty based solely on disability. Dr Msipa highlighted the urgent need for African states to align with international standards, advocating for universal legal capacity to ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Visibility of disability: Data collection challenges

Bianca van der Schyff, representing the National and Provincial Women's Representative for DeafBlind in South Africa, addressed the critical issue of data collection regarding dual sensory impairments. She stressed the inadequacies in existing legislation which fails to capture the unique challenges faced by DeafBlind individuals, particularly concerning domestic violence. Van der Schyff put emphasis on the necessity of specialised research and comprehensive data collection to inform targeted interventions and support services for this marginalised group.

Advocating for dual-sensory impairments

The presentation underscored the importance of advocacy and empowerment for DeafBlind individuals, urging for a nuanced understanding of their needs and rights within broader disability discourse. Advocacy organisations play a vital role in raising awareness and promoting inclusive support services, yet there remains a pressing need for greater recognition of the complexities inherent in dual-sensory impairments.

In conclusion, the UFS International Conference on Disability Rights served as a catalyst for dialogue and action, reaffirming the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive society that upholds the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of ability, as stipulated in Vision 130 – the strategic intent of the UFS to reposition itself for its 130th anniversary in 2034. As discussions continue and initiatives take shape, the conference represents a pivotal step towards realising the transformative potential of disability rights advocacy.

News Archive

Right to Learn campaign seeks to fund financially needy students

2015-11-11

SRC President, Lindokuhle Ntuli, pledges financial support to the Right to Learn campaign.
Photo: Tango Twasa

In response to the dire need for financial relief for academically deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds, the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of the Free State (UFS) launched the Right to Learn campaign on Friday 30 October 2015. The campaign, which aims to counter deregistration, was initiated following the national #FeesMustFall campaign, which gained momentum after students from the University of Witwatersrand first mobilised against the proposed fee increases for 2016.

The SRC’s Projects Committee realised that, although President Jacob Zuma had consented to a 0% increment, the lack of an increase would not eliminate the financial burden currently facing some students.

“The campaign was conceived at the SRC’s strategic planning meeting, and is now spearheaded by the SRCs Projects Committee,” said Letsika Leqoalane, SRC: Academic Affairs. “The campaign was founded on the university's value of ‘Superior Scholarship’ and the SRC’s value of reducing student financial exclusions,” he added.

Students in pursuit of continued access to education

The Right to Learn campaign was established as a supplementary initiative to the #FeesMustFall movement. “The Right to Learn campaign is an initiative to raise funds for students who are facing financial exclusion in the coming year,” said the SRC Academics Affairs officer.

All proceeds will be channeled towards reducing the number of students who will face de-registration in 2016, the SRC textbook bursary, and food bursaries. “This campaign stands on three pillars, namely: no to de-registration, no to student food insecurity, and yes to textbooks,” explained Leqoalane.

A call for support

According to SRC President, Lindokuhle Ntuli, “SRC members have made pledges of no less than R500 each from their own pockets.” The SRC is appealing to the UFS community to make donations into the campaign bank account, and thereafter to email the proof of payment to Ntuli at NtuliL@ufs.ac.za. The account details are:

Account number: 15-7085-0721 ABSA Bank Branch
Reference: SRC FUND
Branch Code: 632005 Cheque Account
Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

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