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FAO and the Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom Representations to the United Nations in Rome celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
About 15 percent of the global population lives with some form of disability - of which many depend on agrifood systems for their livelihoods. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) seeks to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities in agrifood systems and celebrate stories of innovation, adaptation and inclusion. This year, the Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom Representations to the United Nations (UN) in Rome joined FAO in hosting an event where such stories and examples could be presented.
The intersections between disabilities and global issues
By gathering civil society, government representatives, academia and UN agencies, the event provided a realistic, yet forward-looking perspective on the situation of persons with disabilities in agrifood systems. Persons with disabilities “are overrepresented among the poor and food insecure, and are more vulnerable to shocks, including climate change,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina. DDG Martina also addressed FAO’s commitment to disability inclusion through, for example, its upcoming Disability Inclusion Policy.
“When we look at global issues – climate change, hunger, poverty and inequality - people with disabilities, as a marginalized community, often face the worst impact of these global issues. (...) It is imperative that the voices of people with disabilities and their representative organizations are championed at all levels of our work,” highlighted Her Excellency Evelyn Ashton-Griffiths, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, at the opening of the event.
Jody Santos, Founding Executive Director of the Disability Justice Project and human rights film maker, also emphasized the need for people with disabilities to reclaim the narrative on disability: “They are the experts of their own lives and should be telling their own stories”. The Disability Justice Project trains disabled human rights defenders in film making. The documentary “Rising Tides, Raising Voices”, produced under the project, was screened at the event, highlighting the intersection between climate and disability. While people with disabilities are among the most affected by climate change, they are also the most overlooked in climate mitigation strategies, for example in the design of evacuation centres which are often inaccessible to wheelchair users.
The meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities
While compounding factors such as gender inequality may further marginalize people with disabilities, when appropriate support is made available, they can have an active role in their communities, take ownership of their livelihoods and weave tight social bonds. Her Excellency Nella Pepe Tavita-Levy, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the UN in Geneva and Permanent Representative to FAO showcased inclusion initiatives in the Pacific region and by the Samoan government, such as the Samoa Disability Partnership Programme and, more specifically, the translation of disaster risk reduction material intro braille.
In addition, through evidence-based research, it is possible to dismantle misperceptions around the involvement of persons with disabilities in agrifood systems. Research across ten low-income countries, for instance, found that youth with disabilities are more engaged in agriculture than non-disabled youth, as presented by Morgon Banks, Associate Professor in Disability Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
A farmer that participated in a FAO-supported project and a young person engaging in an agricultural cooperative joined the event to share their stories.
Khaled Mohammed is an Egyptian farmer and FAO project beneficiary who is specialized in date palm production. Khaled is deaf and counts on the support of his wife, Nehmedo Abdelhamid, and his peers at the Kharga Oasis Farmer Field School (FFS), which is specifically designed for deaf and mute farmers in the area. The targeted FFS lessons helped Khaled boost his date production by 20 percent, which allowed him to settle debts and improve his family’s life. At the event, Khaled shared more about the impact that this project had on his work and family as well as the social fabric of his community.
The Rome-based social cooperative Il Trattore was also represented at the event by Roberto Rossi, one of its members. The cooperative, which focuses on the production of seasonal fruits and vegetables, offers people with disabilities the opportunity to be inserted in the agrifood labor market. Roberto’s engagement with the cooperative started as a therapeutic training of social and labor insertion proposed by his District of Mental Health. After a very positive training period, Roberto was hired as an employee of the cooperative where he is responsible for growing vegetables and mushrooms, home deliveries, and gardening in private houses and public parks.
A future of inclusivity and opportunity
Persons with disabilities often remain at the margin of agrifood systems and are exposed to discrimination, stigma, and prejudice. When disability intersects with other drivers of social inequalities and exclusion, the resulting form of discrimination exacerbates the experience of marginalization and disempowerment of these people. With this reality in mind, policies and programmes aiming to support persons with disabilities in agrifood systems must have a comprehensive understanding of the varied spectrum of disabilities and must enable people with disabilities to fully participate in programmes and processes for their economic and social empowerment.
“As we confront the global climate crisis, it is imperative that we ensure our responses are inclusive of all communities, especially those most at risk of marginalization,” said Jenny Reid, Deputy Permanent Representative of New Zealand to FAO, Co-Chair of the South West Pacific Regional Group.
FAO is committed to enhancing the integration of disability inclusion in its programmes to enhance access to economic opportunities, services and technologies for persons with disabilities as well as their agency, socio-economic participation and leadership. “Normally, we don’t realize the importance of ‘Leaving no one behind’. It is the most complex part of our statement, and it is crucial,” said Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist. “When given the opportunity to participate and when properly valued, persons with disabilities can make the difference and prosper.”
In order to realize the principle of “leaving no one behind”, FAO will continue working with its partners to place disability inclusion at the heart of its programmes and projects through better data collection, awareness raising and advocating for more inclusive policymaking and programming.
More information: Event recording available here
Source: FAO