The Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities has discussed a proposed Bill to repeal the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 28 of 1996, and introduce new legislation to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities.
The discussion took place when the Caucus met at Parliament under the chairmanship of Parliamentarian Sugath Wasantha de Silva.
MP De Silva said the need for new legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities has been discussed for nearly three decades since the 1996 Act was introduced.
He noted that although Sri Lanka ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in 2016, the country has yet to introduce domestic legislation fully in line with the Convention, which was adopted in 2006.
He said several Cabinet decisions had been taken since 2016 to prepare new legislation. However, differences have emerged between the original objectives of the proposed law and the provisions contained in the current draft.
He stressed the need to resolve those issues through consultations with all relevant stakeholders before the legislative process moves forward.
Officials from the relevant ministry told the Caucus that a model Bill prepared by a subcommittee comprising members of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities had been submitted to the Department of Legal Draftsman.
The Department subsequently revised the draft and returned it to the Ministry. The process of obtaining the views of the National Council on the revised draft is currently underway, officials said.
The Caucus also considered observations previously made by the Attorney General’s Department, recommendations of the Human Rights Commission and views submitted by other stakeholders.
Participants discussed the need to establish an independent monitoring mechanism in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The meeting also focused on legal provisions relating to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, equal working conditions and wages, and reasonable accommodations in workplaces.
The existing policy proposals and regulations concerning the employment quota for persons with disabilities in the public sector were also discussed, with participants emphasizing the need to strengthen the relevant legal provisions.
The Caucus stressed the importance of reaching consensus among all relevant institutions and expediting the introduction of a sustainable legal framework that protects the rights of persons with disabilities while complying with current social and economic conditions and international standards, according to the Department of Communication of Parliament.
