PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has declared July 17 to 23 of every year as “National Disability Rights Week” to improve public awareness of disability problems and ensure the country’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Malacañang issued Proclamation No. 597, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last June 13 declaring the “National Disability Rights Week.”
As a signatory to the UNCRPD, the country is committed to promoting, protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities; and promoting respect for their inherent dignity.
Proclamation No. 597 directs the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to lead, coordinate and supervise the observance of “National Disability Rights Week” and to identify the programs, activities and projects for the celebration.
It also directed other government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, to observe the celebration and encouraged all local government units, non-government organizations, and private sectors to do the same.
Proclamation No. 597 also repealed Proclamation Numbers 1870 and 361. Proclamation 1870, issued in 1979, declared the third week of July as the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, while Proclamation 361, issued in 2000, declared July 23 of every year as the culmination of the NDPR.
