Our Federation; Integrating disabled individuals into society and working life in social, economic, cultural, educational, sports, legal and professional aspects; protection of common rights and interests, development of rights and freedoms; It is a rights-based non-governmental organization founded in 2015 with the aim of defending a democratic management approach that is based on the rule of law, realizing social justice, allowing all disabled people to live in rights-based prosperity and peace, and to ensure cooperation and coordinated work among member associations. Our Federation; He is a member of the Network Against Discrimination, the Confederation of Disabled People, the Turkish Disabled People's Assembly, GAB Local NGO Network and the Disabled Children's Rights Network.
The Federation of Disabled Components, which carries out rights-based work for the establishment of a democratic civil society understanding, is headquartered in Diyarbakır and continues its activities with seventeen member associations from Diyarbakır, Batman, Erzurum, Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Van, Şırnak and Antalya.
Our Member Associations; The work of our associations that carry out rights-based activities in the field of SSPE, Hearing, Vision, Dialysis Patients and Orthopedically disabled people can be followed/reached at the following addresses;
o https://www.engelsizbilesenler.org.tr/tr/ - https://www.engelsizbilesenler.org.tr/ku/
o https://www.facebook.com/engelsizbilesenlerfederasyon
o https://twitter.com/engelsizblsnlr
o https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8c-ZGtn4OANncqnzrfkrg
o https://www.instagram.com/engelsizbilesenler/
OUR FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE MAIN PROBLEM AREAS IN THE FIELD OF DISABLED PEOPLE AND CONTINUOUS DISEASES
Legislation and practices that are not compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities must be identified and terminated. The rights promised in the contract should be reflected in life without delay. It should be seen that disability is not only a physical issue but also a social and political issue.
The current age, gender, education, marital status, income and employment status, reporting status of the disabled people in the country and region, and the income status of the people living in the household are not known. Some incompatible data and administrative records made in 2002, 2011 and 2016, which are very limited in scope, do not cover millions of people with disabilities and chronic diseases. A structure should be established where these neighborhood and district-based data are kept up to date and these data are taken as basis in the provision of public services related to the disabled.
Accessibility, whose legislation was introduced in 2005, must now be brought to life on roads, buildings, sidewalks, passages, workplaces and residences without delay. It should be taken into consideration that accessibility is not a purely physical issue, and necessary initiatives should be initiated to increase virtual accessibility. The websites, buildings and public services provided by public institutions and organizations should be adapted to the accessibility of all disability groups. Even in places with a population of over one million and hundreds of thousands of disabled people, there is not a single restaurant, cafe, lounge, etc. that disabled people can go to without any problems. There is no single place. Including new buildings, especially public buildings; The biggest obstacle is the spaces that are not built with a disability perspective in terms of elevators, stairs, passageways, toilets, working order and communication. Not only physical obstacles, but also the inadequacy of Braille alphabet or audio/visual guides, the absence of personnel who know sign language, and the lack of administrators who are aware of disability rights are the main reasons that reinforce the obstacles.
Poverty, deprivation, lack of employment and income for disabled people can be overcome not with the simple aid approaches that have been implemented so far, but with decent work and employment opportunities for the disabled. Millions of disabled people, especially those with access to supportive technologies and the necessary vocational training support, are in a position to participate in work and employment. Disabled people are uncomfortable with this aid-centered approach, which sees them as deficient, in need of help, poor, sick and disabled. Just as a life worthy of human dignity can be achieved for everyone through decent work and employment, it will also be provided for the disabled. It is necessary to increase the employment quota in the public sector, to warn institutions that do not comply with the legal quota, to employ disabled people working in the public sector in jobs appropriate to their education and experience, and to prevent marginalization, discrimination and mobbing in the workplace.
Public policies should be determined by taking the opinions of disabled people in all processes related to disabled people. For these reasons, political parties need to establish strong commissions on disability, develop mechanisms that will increase the level of representation, and create space for disabled people in local and general assemblies. Regulations made without consulting the opinions of disabled people often do not lead to any social benefit and lead to waste of resources.
Social and psychological rehabilitation services are very inadequate in the country, especially for the severely disabled, those with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and for their families. In this regard, we provide support to families with an institutional approach at both central and local levels.
There is no harmony between the share allocated for disabled people from the general and local budgets (1.6 percent) and the share of disabled people in the total population (12.29 percent). This unfair distribution should be corrected and public services provided to disabled people should be improved. Sign language translators should be employed in all public institutions, awareness of the Braille alphabet should be increased, and public transportation should be accessible.
It should be seen that disability is not a natural condition. Disability is increasing due to domestic violence, malnutrition, health and education services, work accidents, traffic accidents and other social reasons. It should be seen that the ongoing conflict processes and wars in our region are an important cause of disability, and that processes such as immigration and veteran status can overlap with disability. Conflict and violence processes that increase social deprivation and disability, especially the clearing of land mines, must evolve into peace and these artificial causes of disability must be stopped.
Maternal, fetal and baby health services must be qualified, free, accessible and provided in the native language. A very serious structuring should be carried out to ensure access to health services, especially for disabled people with chronic diseases, multiple disabilities, and severe disabilities.
It should be known that, as in all inequalities, within the scope of disability, disabled women are more negatively affected by all sexist discourses and practices. Fulfilling the requirements of agreements on women's rights, such as the Istanbul Convention and CEDAW, will also have positive effects on the rights of women with disabilities. Discriminatory discourses and practices against disabled women must be stopped immediately.
Violence, abuse, harassment, etc. against disabled people. Situations should be subject to more severe sanctions, perpetrators should not be favored if they are public officials, and deterrence should be ensured through effective punishment.
The word is over regarding the rights of people with disabilities, now it's time for implementation. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the most comprehensive implementation guide. The life of tomorrow should be built based on the "Universal Design" of this contract, whose principles and perspective aim to create equal citizens. Existing cities will undergo a complete transformation within 10-20 years. While this transformation is taking place, disability can be overcome, as long as we recognize the basic human rights of disabled people and listen to the components trying to establish a barrier-free life.