Ramaphosa: Empowerment of people with disabilities crucial for just society
President Cyril Ramaphosa says empowering vulnerable groups economically is crucial for the advancement of a free and fair society.
He delivered the keynote address at a summit on economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Kempton Park on Thursday.
Ramaphosa says people with disabilities still face barriers when trying to access opportunities.
The president says no one must be left behind.
"At a practical level, this means removing barriers that impede the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of public life.
"It means that we need to address all the areas in which persons with disabilities face discrimination through, for example, increasing job and training opportunities, promoting inclusive education and ensuring access to health care services.
"Critical to ensuring we empower and promote the rights of persons with disabilities is to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse. This requires a concerted public awareness campaign to tackle prejudice and discrimination.
"It means that our criminal justice system, public authorities and Chapter 9 institutions need to play a prominent role to ensure that persons with disabilities are safe, secure and treated with dignity."
