Three key laws have been reproduced in braille to help visually-impaired citizens know their rights.
The Protection of Children’s Act (2009), the Sexual Offences Act (2010) and the Trafficking in Persons Act (2005) were first translated
into user-friendly language and reproduced in braille by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), according to a Ministry of Social Protection press release.
The reproductions, which are part of a wider support initiative undertaken by UNICEF, were presented to Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence by UNICEF representative for Guyana and Suriname Marianne Flach at the ministry on Wednesday.
Flach, the release said, disclosed that the aim of the initiative was to ensure that all children, including those with disabilities, have access to the important laws.
Forty copies of each reproduced Act were produced in the introductory phase of the project and there are plans to expand production for nationwide access.
Lawrence said the ministry will collaborate with the National Commission on Disability (NCD) to ensure that copies of the reproductions are dispatched to all relevant groups.
Also witnessing the presentation were Permanent Secretary, Lorene Baird, Director of Social Services (DSS) Wentworth Tanner, Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Greene and Commissioner of the NCD Ganesh Singh.
Additionally, Flach disclosed that along with the legislation, booklets on early childhood and ending corporal punishment in schools via “positive discipline” have been translated into the Makushi and Wapishana languages for the indigenous population.
The UNICEF representative also mentioned that the organisation has supported a venture to make the play area in the National Park accessible to disabled children. They are also pursuing meeting with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to discuss the refurbishing of playgrounds to better accommodate the disabled.
