An MP from the United Kingdom has hailed the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The goals are a proposed set of targets that relate to future international development.
Mark Williams (Ceredigion) said equality and empowerment for disabled people was critical in the realisation of development.
The MP, who was in company of Chris Heaton (Harris), Mike Wood (Dudley South) and LOrd Low (Dalston) said the Millennium Development Goals did not make any reference to persons with disabilities.
“MDGs made no reference to disability but the new goals put emphasis on that,” he said on Tuesday.
While persons with disabilities make up 10 per cent of the world’s population, disability is associated with 20 per cent of global poverty according to the World Bank’s findings.
Speaking in Kisumu when he led three other MPs from the UK representing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Inclusive Education during a dinner hosted by Leonard Chesire Disability on Tuesday night, Williams said SGDs could signal a sea change for disabled people.
He said they were visiting Kisumu to monitor projects funded by the UK government under the Leonard Chesire Disability.
Williams said his team will make a strong argument for more funds to Kenya to help in the inclusive education for disabled girls.
Leonard Chesire Disability is working in the entire Nyanza region to promote an understanding of inclusion focusing on gender and disability issues.
Orpa Ogot, Inclusive Education Advisor at Leonard Chesire Disability called for key players to reinvigorate the campaign and awareness creation on disability.
“It is however good to see that inclusion is still on focus in several communities and amongst the many interest groups,” she said.