Janette Peña, Raphael Torralba other leaders and members in Freedom Walk |
The Autism Society Philippines joined more than 1000 participants, composed of persons with disabilities, officials from the national government agencies and local government units of Metro Manila, leaders and members of PWD organizations and civil society for the annual Freedom Walk last 30 June 2013. The theme, “Each rightful step we take, all barriers we break," stresses the rights of PWDs on the issues that affect their lives.
The walk in an annual event that coincides with the Philippine Independence Day celebration. The event was spearheaded by the Alyansa ng Mga Maykapansanang Pinoy (AKAP-Pinoy) and chaired by the Philippine Association of Children with Developmental and Learning Disabilities Inc (PACDLD). The affair aimed to raise awareness to make a PWD-inclusive society and to express concerns on their rights to a barrier-free society and focuses on the progressive realization of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which marks the paradigm shift in attitudes from viewing PWDs as objects of charity to a person capable of claiming their rights in all aspects of human endeavors.
Emer Rojas, the Vice Chairperson of this year’s Walk, encouraged PWDs to be aware of their rights as citizens and despite of their disabilities, they should not be discriminated. Both are embodied in the Philippine Constitution and UNCRPD.
The Autism Society Philippines contingent was led by National President, Janette Peña and Program Coordinator, Raphael Torralba, who is also a part of the event’s Technical Working Committee.
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