Moving Beyond Words to Action
A Call for Libya: Moving Beyond Words to Action
It is no longer acceptable for disability issues to remain mere slogans voiced at official events or empty statements that lack follow-up actions. The international community is witnessing a clear shift, driven by the disability communities themselves, as they strive to obtain their full rights and actively participate in determining their own futures. This shift must extend to Libya, not through hollow declarations, but through tangible actions, bold political and economic decisions that the Libyan state must adopt with real will and determination.
As we recently witnessed, Libyan Minister of Social Affairs, Ms. Wafa Abubakr Al-Kilani, delivered a speech at the World Disability Summit in Berlin, full of commitments and grand statements that portrayed Libya as a leader in implementing inclusive policies. Unfortunately, what was said there has little to do with the reality on the ground in Libya. People with disabilities in Libya still face exclusion and marginalization in various areas, from the absence of accessible infrastructure to being deprived of actual participation in political and economic life.
Accessibility and Inclusion: Not a Luxury, But Human and Economic Rights
Accessibility and inclusion cannot be seen as mere optional additions or privileges. They are fundamental human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Moreover, integrating persons with disabilities into economic and financial policies is essential to achieving social justice, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
Statistics indicate that 15% of the global population consists of persons with disabilities. Therefore, allocating 15% of development resources for these citizens is not a charity or a grant but a legal and ethical obligation to ensure equal opportunities and genuine equality in benefiting from development projects at both local and global levels.
Banks and Financial Institutions: Social Responsibility and Legal Commitment
Financial institutions, including banks, have a direct responsibility to ensure that their services are accessible, understandable, and usable by all members of society, including persons with disabilities. The international convention (Article 9) obligates states to provide accessibility to facilities and services, including financial services. Article 21 guarantees individuals the right to access information in a format they can understand, enabling them to make independent decisions.
Integrating inclusion into financial policies, especially by imposing accessibility requirements when providing loans to institutions, is a strategic step that enhances consumer protection and encourages markets to be more inclusive and fair.
A Direct Call to the Libyan Government: It's Time for Action, Not Words
The Libyan government must stop issuing ineffective statements and begin implementing clear policies to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of public life, especially in the financial and economic fields. It must:
Include accessibility standards in all development programs.
Obligate financial institutions to provide accessible and inclusive services.
Allocate a portion of development resources for the benefit of persons with disabilities.
Ensure the active participation of persons with disabilities in economic policy-making.
Justice is not only about granting rights but also removing barriers to exercising those rights. Economic participation for persons with disabilities begins with their legal recognition as active members of society and ends with enabling them to access information, financial services, and contribute to economic development.