International Day of Persons with Disability Celebrated at ECSU
Ethiopian Civil Service University Center for Gender and Development organized an event to mark International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPwD) on January 3, 2014 at the University`s main campus. Dr. Hailemichael Abera President of ECSU, academic and administrative staff, and staff and students with disability attended the ceremony.
In his opening remark Dr. Hailemichael Abera president of the University said some of the new issues that our constitute incorporated are the rights of people with disability. Focusing on promoting accessibility and removing all types of barriers is not a matter of giving aid, rather it is a matter of enabling them exercise their right, Dr. Hailemichael added. He also said,
"these days people`s perception on disability and people with disability is changing. They become aware of the rights of people with disability. "
ECSU shows its firm stands to the realization of the rights of people with disability by establishing a desk under Center for Gender and Development headed by fulltime academic staff.
In the occasion two presentations entitled "Disability and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability "and "Disability and Development: the Need and the Trend " were given by Temesgen Ayele a student from Institute of Leadership and Good Governance and Ato kassahun Yilikal , president of Federation of Ethiopian National Association of Persons with Disabilities (FENAPD) respectively.
The theme for this year is 'Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all'. According to w/ro Bosena Yirga, Head of Disability Desk in Center for Gender and Development, International Day of People with Disability was celebrated for the first time in Ethiopian Civil Service University, and for the 21 time in Ethiopian and for 22
Asked what it feels celebrating the day for the first time at ECSU, Geletaw Mulu, comparative Public Law Second year Masters Student at ECSU and member of the Association of Students with Disability in ECSU said we are happy to see the day celebrated at our University, our efforts bear fruit.
Different literary works and traditional ` Mesenko ` play were part of the ceremony.