Media Invitation: SAHRC launches the library section for people with disabilities

14 March 2014

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) invites members of the media to the launch of the library Disability Unit. The unit, embedded within the SAHRC Library, will provide people with disabilities with equal opportunity to access information on Human Rights.

This is part of the Commission’s celebrations of Human Rights month.

The library will be launched as follows:
Date: 18 March 2014
Venue: SAHRC 4th floor – library
Time: 12h00 – 14h15

The provision of the Disability Unit is in line with the Commission’s mandate to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone. In addition, the constitutional Right to Equality states that “Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.”

In the process of discharging its mandate, the Commission has identified priority areas that it will focus on, and these include equality, socio-economic rights and access to information.

Furthermore, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which South Africa is party to, provides that States Parties shall also take appropriate measures to “Ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities”.

The Commission has therefore in compliance with the above mentioned provision, established a Disability Unit in the library with assistive technology in order to make it accessible to persons with disabilities. The facility will be equipped with devices suitable for use by persons with different disabilities (deaf, blind, physically handicapped and dyslexic people)

For more information contact

Alucia Sekgathume
Tel: 011 877 3627/3634
Cell: 0826892364