Faisalabad: November 18, 2010. (PCP) On 14th November 2010, Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) organized a training workshop on the theme “Awareness and Motivation for Women with Disabilities to Combat Barriers” held at Chenab School System, Sarfraz Colony in Faisalabad. The purpose of the workshop was to create understanding among participants about human rights, gender and disability concepts, to update them about myths, stereotypes, attitude and perception towards people with disabilities, and to impart skills among them to combat barriers and raise voice for their rights. 31 Muslim and Christian women with disabilities actively participated in the training workshop, while Naseem Anthony (Executive Secretary-AWAM), Shazia George, Mumtaz Kousar and Um-e-Farwa were among the facilitators. Naseem Anthony said, “Persons with disabilities are born with special gifts, so they can perform any task like non-disable persons, but they are not encouraged to play their part in the different spheres of life, even they are not given what they deserve.” “We must engage rather than isolate persons with disabilities in public life in order to enable them lead an independent and confident life, free of barriers and discrimination,” he added. Shazia George said, “Discrimination with human beings on any grounds is termed as a grave violation of human rights, the persons with disabilities face different forms of discrimination in Pakistan which include; Improper implementation of reserved quota for persons with disabilities in the field of education and employment, Calling and teasing them with different discriminatory names and titles, and Confining them at home and keeping them away from the development due to the perception of being inferior and unproductive citizens about them.” Mumtaz Kousar said, “The sense of deprivation and interiority complex will remain in persons with disabilities unless citizens bring positive change in thinking and attitude towards people with disabilities by acknowledging them an equal human being.” “Those societies come to an end where deserving people are not given their due rights,” she added. Um-e-Farwa said, “There are women with disabilities who get higher education despite barriers in the way of their progress, but they fail to get respectful job just for the reason of being disable.” “Government must strictly implement the reserved job quota for people with disabilities, and should take steps for ensuring easy access of persons with disabilities to educational institutes, health facilities, rehabilitation centres, employment, transportation, public buildings and places, based on universally accepted standards,” she added. At this juncture, the participants for the improvement in the situation of persons with disabilities demanded that: Government must ensure availability of disability registration form in Urdu in place of English; NADRA should be directed to display instructions outside all its branches regarding issuing special CNIC for persons with disabilities; Pakistan and Punjab Bait-ul-maal must release reserved fund to the deserving persons with disabilities; Government must bound all institutions to create job opportunities for eligible persons with disabilities; Disability registration process must be made easy, short, accessible and speedy in order to mitigate the sufferings of people with disabilities; Every Tehsil Headquarter Hospital along with DHQ hospital should be authorized to issue disability registration certificate keeping in view the problems facing persons with disabilities in mobility; Government must ensure strict implementation on all privileges, policies and legislation concerning persons with disabilities, and must eliminate the tariffs, duties and taxes imposed on assistive devices and vehicles for them; Government should ratify UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) for addressing their problems and needs, and for the improvement in the situation of persons with disabilities.