Background
Children with disabilities (CwDs) are among the most marginalized groups in society constantly experiencing barriers to the enjoyment of their basic human rights. On the global level, it is estimated that there are about 93 million children with disabilities. The World Health Organization also estimates that about 10 percent of the world’s children and young people have a sensory, intellectual or mental health impairment. According to the 2010 population census, about 17.8 percent of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana are between ages 0-14.Ghana is a signatory to a number of international instruments seeking to protect CwDs, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 23). Furthermore, the 1992 Constitution (Articles 28 and 29), the Children’s Act (Act 560) 1998, the Disability Act 2006 (Act 715), the Education Strategic Plan 2018 – 2030, and the inclusive Education all seek to protect the rights of CwD and facilitate their inclusion in national development processes. The enforcement and implementation of these laws and policies, has seen Ghana make some strides in protecting the rights of CwDs and offering them the enabling environment to develop. This notwithstanding, major challenges remain, and further effort needs to be put in place to protect CwDs from discrimination and facilitate their rapid inclusion in all aspects of the national development process.
The 2020 Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Child Protection (KSWCP) will convene policymakers, bureaucrats, researchers and practitioners to share and discuss new research on CwDs, highlight progress in advancing the rights and protection of CwDs and to identify areas for further action.
Overview of KSWCP
Participatory Development Associates has since 2017 held the annual knowledge sharing workshop on child protection to facilitate knowledge sharing on child rights as well as to coordinate advocacy efforts for reform. The annual workshop has since its inception successfully convened policy makers, child rights advocates and practitioners, academics, children and other stakeholders to discuss issues from child labour and trafficking, to digital literacy and child online protection among others. The event has been in collaboration with the Department of Children (DOC) under the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP).
This year’s workshop focuses on issues affecting children with disabilities in Ghana. More specifically, the event seeks to provide a platform to;
- Share findings from researches on children with disabilities,
- premier a documentary on child and adolescent mental health care in Ghana,
- highlight efforts and milestones in promoting social inclusion for children with disabilities,
- and explore areas for strategic advocacy and action to advance the inclusion of CwDs in the national development process.
Structure and Details of Workshop
The workshop shall consist of two main sessions – the first session will feature a series of presentations on children with disabilities followed by questions and discussions from the participants. The second session entails a panel discussion aimed at unpacking the main issues raised in the first session. This will conclude in a plenary discussion where major outcomes and action points shall be identified and documented for further action.
Theme: Inclusive development for all
Date: Thursday, 26th November 2020
Venue: Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), Ridge.
This event will be streamed live on Facebook – (PDA Ghana) and YouTube – (PDA TV)
Kindly click here to register for the event