Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
'Highlight deaf issues more' - Fiji Times Online
ACTING Information Ministry deputy permanent secretary Setaita Natai says a society's true measure is found in how it treats the weakest and most helpless citizens.
Drawing from a statement by former US president Jimmy Carter, Ms Natai said during the Deaf Awareness Week, "We all have a duty to raise each other up, and that duty is inclusive of our treatment of those of us who have physical challenges, it's not a duty that rests entirely on the Government".
Ms Natai urged the media to support the push for equal access to information for Fiji's deaf community.
She questioned the priorities of media outlets asking if they gave issues relating to the deaf as much prominence as their extensive coverage for hard news.
"Are we utilising it enough to create circumstances, to afford those with hearing challenges the same opportunities we so thoroughly enjoy as 'normal' hearing citizens?
"Let's highlight deaf issues more powerfully, give it as much weight or even greater than just the hard news."
Ms Natai also highlighted the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons of 2007 which the Government signed last year, specifically Article 30 in its optional protocol which states: "Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture."
"Already the Government recognises this and to this effect the Fiji Today News is telecast in sign language, ensuring deaf communities exercise their right to information," added Ms Nata who played an important role in the move by the Government to include a sign language interpreter for those with hearing and speech impairments during the telecast of its program Fiji Today News on Mai TV.
However, she modestly redirected all credit for the decision to the Minister for Information, National Archives and Library Services of Fiji and Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama whom she says has a keen interest in the issue.
ACTING Information Ministry deputy permanent secretary Setaita Natai says a society's true measure is found in how it treats the weakest and most helpless citizens.
Drawing from a statement by former US president Jimmy Carter, Ms Natai said during the Deaf Awareness Week, "We all have a duty to raise each other up, and that duty is inclusive of our treatment of those of us who have physical challenges, it's not a duty that rests entirely on the Government".
Ms Natai urged the media to support the push for equal access to information for Fiji's deaf community.
She questioned the priorities of media outlets asking if they gave issues relating to the deaf as much prominence as their extensive coverage for hard news.
"Are we utilising it enough to create circumstances, to afford those with hearing challenges the same opportunities we so thoroughly enjoy as 'normal' hearing citizens?
"Let's highlight deaf issues more powerfully, give it as much weight or even greater than just the hard news."
Ms Natai also highlighted the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons of 2007 which the Government signed last year, specifically Article 30 in its optional protocol which states: "Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture."
"Already the Government recognises this and to this effect the Fiji Today News is telecast in sign language, ensuring deaf communities exercise their right to information," added Ms Nata who played an important role in the move by the Government to include a sign language interpreter for those with hearing and speech impairments during the telecast of its program Fiji Today News on Mai TV.
However, she modestly redirected all credit for the decision to the Minister for Information, National Archives and Library Services of Fiji and Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama whom she says has a keen interest in the issue.
