Playing Ping Pong with Disability

Table tennis players train at Majd Sports. Majd Sports is a recreational centre catering for people with disabilities in Ramallah, occupied West Bank. Credit: Silvia Boarini/IPSBy Silvia BoariniRAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank, Apr 28 2016 (IPS)Despite formally adopting progressive laws, such as Law Number 4, and ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, Palestinian authorities still struggle to get beyond rhetoric when it comes to supporting the 7 to 11 per cent of the population that is affected by disability. As the ongoing Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza continues to block the development of the quasi-Palestinian state, the advancement of the rights of people with disabilities remains at the bottom of a long list of priorities that sees ‘security and defence’ firmly at the top.In the past 30 years — with many disabilities resulting from two intifadas, ongoing clashes and three wars in Gaza — an increasing number of organisations and committees has incorporated in their mandate the advancement of the rights of people with disability and the monitoring of any violations.But their power to hold ministries or state institutions accountable for any failings is still objectively minimal. This leaves small NGOs and individual activists in charge of raising awareness of the needs of disabled people amongst the population and the political class and to fight everyday for integration.Disabled activists for disabl...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Active Citizens Armed Conflicts Civil Society Featured Global Geopolitics Headlines Health Human Rights Middle East & North Africa Population Source Type: news