Leader of the Disability Movement Denounces Bolivian Government's Indifference Toward the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities

The Bolivian Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (Confederación Boliviana de la Persona con Discapacidad, COBOPDI), composed of organizations dedicated to disability issues at the national level, expressed their frustration regarding the indifference manifested by the government toward the activities for the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities. This negative situation was denounced by Herminio Yarari Silva, President of the Bolivian Confederation.

Several countries' presidents from the region have adhered to the activities of the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities, while in Bolivia only the first step was just undertaken to benefit this so vulnerable sector of our society. We should have done more because, as a paradox, it was in Bolivia, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, during the Summit of Presidents and Heads of State, including our President Carlos Mesa, that 2004 was declared the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities.

Eight months have gone by and the President of the Bolivian Confederation denounces indifference by government authorities regarding this important celebration.

On March 28 to April 2, delegates of the Ibero-American Network of Persons with Disabilities and their Families (Red Iberoamericana de Organizaciones de Personas con Discapacidad y sus Familias) and the Ibero-American Inter-governmental Network for Technical Cooperation (Red Intergubernamental Iberoamericana de Cooperación Técnica, RIICOTEC) met in Santa Cruz de la Sierra to provide general guidelines for the celebration of the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities.

The government has not paid due attention to this issue, and it has postponed the official participation of Bolivia in the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities. That is why, organizations of the civil society, like the Bolivian Confederation of Persons with Disabilities, the Bolivian Ombudsman, and the Bolivian Chapter of Development and Democracy, organized the inauguration of 2004 as the Ibero-American Year of Persons with Disabilities.

Persons with disabilities need and demand that this year serves to strengthen the institutions by which the government actions reach the population. International actions may also be coordinated to benefit the sector of persons with disabilities.

The World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization estimate that ten percent of the population of Bolivia have a hearing, visual, physical or mental disability. This would mean at least 800,000 persons with disabilities in the country. Yet, on the other hand, there has not been an update to this figure in recent years. So, because of deteriorating social conditions, it is likely that the actual number is really higher. This calls for a more and effective governmental action.

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