Minister Promises Legislation to Protect Sexual and Reproductive Rights of People with Disabilities

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey is promising that measures to protect the sexual and reproductive rights of people living with disabilities will be included in legislation that will be taken before Parliament early next year.

The assurance was given Sunday evening as the National Disabilities Unit observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the unveiling of an Honouring our Heroes monument which hails the contribution of 45 people as heroes of the disabled community.

“People believe that people who have a disability should not be involved in a conversation as if they do not have sex and reproductive rights to . . . and that they shouldn’t be involved in certain things. We have to have a conversation around sexual health and reproductive rights for persons with disability in a way that is respectful and allows them to have dignity,” Humphrey said.

“We also have to have legislation to protect [them against] people who then prey on persons with disabilities in order to satisfy their own depraved sexual wishes. That is why these kinds of things are going to be important as a small component of the legislation. This legislation is going to be a serious piece of legislation.”

The minister said the law to safeguard the interests of this vulnerable group is months away.

“Next year – hopefully by the end of the first quarter but surely next year – we will be in a position to say that Barbados has legislation that improves the lives of persons with disabilities and protects their rights for the person.”

The new monument, on the grounds of the NDU, pays homage to 23 males and 22 females for playing a role in advocating for awareness and inclusion of people with disabilities in Barbados.

Humphrey highlighted the work of the National Advisory Committee on Disabilities which paved the way for the formulation of the draft legislation and a Cabinet-approved policy.

He said the inclusion of people with disabilities is paramount in every facet of life, adding that the administration was committed to a deliberate approach aimed at levelling the societal playing field. Humphrey said this was imperative to integrate people with disabilities into the progressive fabric of the community.

“It is not that people are coming begging, asking for help or begging, asking to be included,” the minister said. “The truth is that we ignore, by our limitations and judgements, people with disabilities. It is not that they don’t deserve to be there in the first place; nobody should have to beg for something that they deserve.”