Chief Justice Anwar Usman delivering a keynote speech and opening the constitution awareness program for citizens (PPHKWN) for Formasi Disabilitas virtually, Tuesday (7/12/2022). Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022 | 20:25 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—Based on Law No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, persons with disabilities are any person who has long-term physical, intellectual, mental, and/or sensory impairments who may face various challenges and barriers in their interaction with their environment to be able to fully and effectively participate together with other citizens on the basis of equal rights. “Persons with disabilities are part of the total Indonesian society that is independent and have constitutional rights,” said Chief Justice Anwar Usman virtually on Tuesday afternoon, July 12, 2022 when opening the constitution awareness program for citizens (PPHKWN) for the inclusive forum for persons with disabilities Forum Masyarakat Pemantau Untuk Indonesia Inklusif Disabilitas (Formasi Disabilitas). The program was collaboration between the Constitutional Court (MK) and Formasi Disabilitas through the Court’s Pancasila and Constitution Education Center (Pusdik MK).

Justice Anwar revealed that persons with disabilities around the world reach 15% while the Ministry of Manpower predicted there are 16.5 million nationally—7.6 million men and 8.9 million women.

“It is not a small number and they require serious attention,” he said.

Justice Anwar added that the government and society had shown greater attention and partisanship to ensure full participation and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. Even so, there are still a number of obstacles and room for improvement so that people with disabilities can enjoy access, rights, dignity, and welfare on an equal basis with other citizens.

Today, Justice Anwar said, there has not been adequate data on the number of persons with disabilities as well as their variety, age, gender, and places of residence. The majority of them still live in vulnerable, backward conditions, and are below poverty level. It has also been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“The actual problems faced by many people with disabilities are limited access to health, education, training, and decent work. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), people with disabilities in every country are vulnerable to poverty as measured by per capita income or decent standard of living, which include education, health, and living conditions,” Justice Anwar said. 

Guarantee for Persons with Disabilities

Acting Head of the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center Imam Margono said the state’s guarantee of all citizens’ constitutional rights, including of persons with disabilities, is mandated by the Constitution.

“The state has enacted Law No. 19 of 2011 on the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Law No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities have specifically provided guarantee of access to justice and judicial institutions,” he said.

In addition, the government issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 39 of 2020 on Adequate Accommodations for Person with Disabilities in Judicial Process. The Constitutional Court followed this up, in accordance with its vision and mission to improve the public’s understanding of the citizens’ constitutional rights as guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution.

“Currently the Constitutional Court through the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center collaborate with Formasi Disabilitas to organize a constitution awareness program for citizens,” Imam stressed.

Stronger Affirmation

The Coordinator of Formasi Disabilitas M. Joni Julianto in his speech conveyed his highest appreciation to the Constitutional Court for collaborating with the forum to organize the PPHKWN.

“For persons with disabilities, the understanding of constitutional rights is very important. Formasi Disabilitas was formed in May 2021 to monitoring the fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities,” he said.

Joni explained that the formation of Formasi Disabilitas was in line with Law No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities. Through this law, the constitutional rights of persons with disabilities are affirmed more strongly. 

Writer        : Nano Tresna Arfana
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 7/13/2022 08:40 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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