Vanuatu joined the global community to celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities on Monday, 3 December 2018.
Oxfam in Vanuatu, through the Vanuatu Civil Society Disability Network (VCSDN), joined partners to celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities.
The celebrations began with a parade from the Fung Kuei parking lot up to the Saraklana Park where invited quests from the private and public sector, including the Director of the Correctional Service, Johnny Marango, made important speeches to commemorate the day.
As part of the celebrations of the International Day for People with Disabilities, Oxfam in Vanuatu's Governance, Leadership & Accountability (GLA) program and the Vanuatu Disability Desk have organised a three (3) day disability forum held at the National Convention Centre in Port Vila starting Tuesday 4th, 5th and 6th of December 2018.
“The International Day of Persons with Disabilities gives us the opportunity to stand with the rest of the world and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in Vanuatu and across the globe”.
The International Day of People with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1981 by the United Nations as a recognised day for the celebration of the achievements of people living with disabilities across the world.
It is also a day upon which we promote awareness of the challenges faced by over 1 billion people living with disabilities, and the role communities and societies play in accelerating the eradication of barriers to social inclusion, equity, participation and citizenship.
Photo supplied. Caption: Cutting the cake to mark the occasion