FIJI, Feb 17: Country does not have any specific legislation to govern the issue of disability and disabled persons in the country, it has been revealed.

The Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons made the comment yesterday following calls for expression of interest for the review of the Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons Act of 1994.

Council executive director Doctor Sitiveni Yanuyanutawa said the review of the FNCDP Act of 1994 ù which would be funded by the European Union was an essential component that came on the heels of Fiji signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities on June 2, last year.

He said the review would encompass all existing legislation that relate to disability in Fiji in a move to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"We do not have any specific legislation that covers disability in the country and since it is a cross-cutting issue, most of the critical facets ù like accessibility, public transport and even disaster management ù should be taken into consideration," Dr Yanuyanutawa said.

"We hope that the key strategic areas that are captured in the National Disability Policy of 2008-2018 will provide the foundational basis for a new disability legislation."

Source: http://www.fijitimes.com