Lives of persons with disabilities in Cameroon after CRPD: voices of persons with disabilities in the Buea Municipality in Cameroon
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Date
2016-03-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
De Gruyter
Abstract
The Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) has been touted as a major breakthrough towards achieving equal rights for persons with
disabilities. The promulgation of the convention provided
clear guidelines for signatory countries to revise their legislation as well as to formulate policies that will take into
consideration the needs of persons with disabilities. As
Cameroon is a signatory to the convention, it is expected
that disability-friendly policies have been implemented to
enhance the living conditions of persons with disabilities.
This study examined, from the perspectives of participants,
the life experiences of persons with disabilities in the Buea
Municipality 7 years after Cameroon signed the CRPD.
Methods: The study adopted a qualitative method,
involving focus-group discussions with 36 participants
from three disability groups: hearing impaired, visually
impaired, and physically impaired.
Findings: The study found that persons with disabilities
in the Buea Municipality faced many challenges in their
daily endeavors. These challenges are a result of a lack of
inclusive policies, leading to their exclusion from social
and economic activities such as education, employment,
and healthcare.
Conclusions: Although the study is limited in scope, the
findings suggest that persons with disabilities in the Buea
Municipality were yet to benefit from the CRPD. It is, therefore, suggested that the government of Cameroon should
formulate inclusive policies to address the numerous
challenges facing persons with disabilities in the Buea
Municipality.
Description
Publish in Int J Disabil Hum Dev 2016; aop.
Keywords
Accessibility, Cameroon, Discrimination, Persons with disabilities, Poverty.
Citation
Opoku, Maxwell Peprah, et al. "Lives of persons with disabilities in Cameroon after CRPD: voices of persons with disabilities in the Buea Municipality in Cameroon." International Journal on Disability and Human Development 16.1 (2017): 67-75.