Legal information for blind

THE Gender Research and Advocacy Project of the Legal Assistance Centre has completed a Braille guide on rape and domestic violence legislation in a bid to address these problems among the disabled, and more specifically the visually impaired community.

Explaining the purpose of the guide, the LAC’s Wairimu Munyinyi said yesterday that, based on recent research done by their organisation, people with disabilities were often targeted by rapists and other abusive people. This, the organisation says, is because of a belief that some disabilities may prevent detection of the culprit or may impede the victim’s ability to resist an assault.”These findings reinforce the need to ensure that all persons with disabilities have access to information about their rights in respect of rape and domestic violence,” she said.Munyinyi said the LAC would soon release a report on rape, in which she says the organisation will call for the highest category of minimum sentences to be imposed on those found guilty of raping people with physical or mental disabilities.While creating this guide in Braille was an expensive exercise for all involved, Munyinyi said that the cost should not be allowed to compromise the right of disabled people to be informed about these issues.”Failure to provide information in an accessible format is in itself a form of discrimination and a direct impediment to the efforts to realise human rights for all”, she said.The project was funded by VSO-Namibia through the British High Commission’s Volunteer Placement Support Fund.This, the organisation says, is because of a belief that some disabilities may prevent detection of the culprit or may impede the victim’s ability to resist an assault.”These findings reinforce the need to ensure that all persons with disabilities have access to information about their rights in respect of rape and domestic violence,” she said.Munyinyi said the LAC would soon release a report on rape, in which she says the organisation will call for the highest category of minimum sentences to be imposed on those found guilty of raping people with physical or mental disabilities.While creating this guide in Braille was an expensive exercise for all involved, Munyinyi said that the cost should not be allowed to compromise the right of disabled people to be informed about these issues.”Failure to provide information in an accessible format is in itself a form of discrimination and a direct impediment to the efforts to realise human rights for all”, she said.The project was funded by VSO-Namibia through the British High Commission’s Volunteer Placement Support Fund.