Accra, June 14, GNA – Mrs Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, a leading member of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) has been re-elected as Ghana’s nominee to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD)
She competed with 13 other candidates and polled 146 votes out of 182 ballots.
Ms Rita Kusi Kyeremaa, Executive Director of the GFD told the Ghana News Agency that “Gertrude has lived with experience of disability discrimination. She has been working for decades to address the stigma and denial of rights of people with Disability, particularly women and girls.
She said her background in inclusive education meant Gertrude had first-hand experience of the impact of exclusion on girls and young women, and the life chances they missed as a result.
“Ms Fefoame brings specific expertise in Articles 6 (women with disabilities), Article 7 (children with disabilities), Article 16 (freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse), Article 23 (home and the family), Article 24 (education), Article 25 (health), Article 27 (work and employment), Article 28 (social protection) and Article 29 (participation) and will continue to work alongside Committee members, and Member States, to uphold the governing principles of the CRPD.”
She said her life-long experience, along with her professional background of working with the disability movement at a national, regional and global level, had equipped her with the skills needed to collaborate with governments on CRPD implementation.
Ms Fefoame said: “I will continue to work in partnership with governments to support them in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Before I joined the Committee there was only one woman… the increased representation of women means there are more voices at the table championing the issues of women and girls with Disability.
We need to sustain the gains made and ensure gender parity is maintained.”
GNA