The delivery and provision of equal access to an independent, fair and just Judicial Service to all people is a priority for the National Judiciary Service of PNG, and persons living with a disability have not been forgotten.
A two day workshop (July 26th-27th) has commenced in collaboration with the PNG Centre for Judicial Excellence (PngCJE), Department of Community Development & Religion and National Judicial Staff Service (NJSS).
The Chief Justice, when presenting his opening remarks, mentioned that this workshop is the first of its kind for the Judiciary on the topic of people living with disabilities.
The Chief Justice highlighted the rights for people with disabilities to access the courts and encouraged participants at the workshop from the various NGOs, Department of Community Development & Religion and NJS to discuss the impediments and importance of actively including the rights of persons with disabilities.
The workshop was officially opened by the Minister for Community Development, Soroi Eoe, in the presence of the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and Judges, Minister for Justice & Attorney General, Davis Steven, Secretary for Department of Community Development & Religion, Anna Solomon, staff from NJSS, Dept. of Community Development and leaders from various disability organisations.
The Minister thanked the Judiciary for the initiative in embracing and understanding the importance of inclusivity in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities by removing the physical, institutional and attitudinal barriers.
The PNG National Policy on Disability embraces the UNCRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) and calls for all Papua New Guineans to “Remove Barriers and Make Rights Real” with the aim of setting up systems and structures to support a broad-based approach to removing barriers that prevent persons with Disabilities from enjoying equal rights and access to services.
