Without exclusion or discrimination
TRANSLATED BY THOMAS LANG
According to the Guatemalan National Statistical Institute (INE), the most recent census data from 2018 shows that 2% of Guatemala’s population lives with a disability. This represents a significant portion of vulnerable people whose rights must be respected and protected equally.
In 2018 Guatemala ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, promising to guarantee rights in an inclusive way and update its laws to be in compliance with the Convention. Despite this, it is the only country in Latin America that has not yet updated its laws.
Including people with disabilities in decision-making processes and letting them speak, participate, and share their expertise is what’s most important. Additionally, it’s important to work to understand their individual situations, needs, culture, and language to be able to respect their rights.
Social inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities is promoted and strengthened through community-based inclusive development and rehabilitation strategies based on 5 components (health, education, social, sustenance, and empowerment).
Our contribution
Rompiendo Límites was created in 2018 by a group of people with disabilities who sought to improve their quality of life. We organize activities for and with people with disabilities and their families in the Department of Chiquimula, Guatemala. Our work is rooted in humanrights.
Currently, we are a multidisciplinary team of 17 professionals and 21 active members, including professionals and college students who support community-based inclusive development strategies. To date, 1,577 people with disabilities from all municipalities have been served, with the majority hailing from Jocotán, Camotán and Olopa.
Bilateral talks have been held with elected officials from Chiquimula with the hopes of finalizing Act 5125. 8 years have passed since the bill was written, and since then it has undergone numerous modifications. This puts its final approval at risk, since edits exceed 30% of the bill’s original content. It’s urgent that organizations like ours work to get the law approved. We need to join together and focus our work, as small laws are being written that fragment Act 5125.
Why is it important to support this law?
Because it doesn’t just focus on one sector or region of Guatemala. This law opens the door to allow people with disabilities to be seen and requires that their rights be respected.
There are sectors and institutions that do not recognize these rights. This is why the law is necessary.
There is still a lack of understanding and much work we need to do, but our community- based inclusive development projects have allowed State organizations to broaden their programming and projects.
We are working with the current government, planning ways to work with people with disabilities at roundtable discussions with Lucrecia Peinado, the First Lady. It is an excellent opportunity that allows us to give our input and feel like our voices are finally being heard.
If we join together, we will be able to generate more consolidated ideas and we will be listened to sooner. We encourage you to get in touch and join our effort in other regions of the country. Let’s be a team and listen to people with disabilities.
To learn more about this movement, you can head to our Facebook page: Asociación Rompiendo Límites Chiquimula or our website: https://rompiendolimites.org.gt/
