2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3, 2023Today (December 3) is the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is a day to promote widespread understanding of disability issues and reaffirm our support for the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities everywhere
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission remains committed to protecting and promoting the inherent dignity and equal rights of all persons with disabilities in this province.
Last year, 61% of human rights complaints formalized by the Commission related to the prohibited ground of disability. In addition to accepting discrimination complaints pertaining to disability, the Commission also works proactively to foster an understanding of what it means to live and work with disabilities in Saskatchewan. We do this by proving public and private presentations, by promoting equitable practices through our Employment Equity Program and our monthly Lunch and Learn speaker series, and by conducting research and community consultations related to systemic discrimination.
Yet, our work is far from finished.
Disability is common in Saskatchewan and around the world. It is a part of the human experience that will affect nearly all of us at some point in our lives. At this moment, nearly a quarter of the people living in Saskatchewan (22.2% of the population aged 15 to 74) report having some form of disability.[1] Many of these people face barriers in the workplace, in schools, and in society. It is imperative that we work together to better understand these issues, eradicate those barriers, and create an inclusive, accessible future in which no person is left behind.
[1] The Daily — Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017 (statcan.gc.ca)