World Down Syndrome Day 2018: PH Supports Calls for Inclusion of People with Down Syndrome 

Ambassador Maria Teresa T. Almojuela, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the UN in Geneva (center) moderating the Panel Discussion on “Persons with Down Syndrome: Towards Better Practices in Fighting Discrimination and Favoring Inclusion,” which was held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on 15 March 2018

22 March 2018 GENEVA – The Philippines joined states and civil society organisations in emphasizing the need for more comprehensive policies and programs to enhance inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in all aspects of social and economic life during a Panel Discussion held at the sidelines of the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council last week.

The Panel Discussion was held to commemorate the World Down Syndrome Day, which is observed every 21st of March, since 2012. 

The side event entitled, “Persons with Down Syndrome: Towards Better Practices in Fighting Discrimination and Favoring Inclusion,” which was held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on March 15, was in keeping with the call of the UN Secretary General last year to give people with disabilities including those with Down syndrome the platform to be heard. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last year said that people with Down syndrome “are agents of change who can drive progress across society – and their voices must be heard as we strive to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Two of the members of the Panel were high-achieving individuals with Down Syndrome, namely Ms. Charlotte Fien, a university student in the United Kingdom and Mr. Franklin John Stephens, an American actor and Special Olympics athlete. Ms. Fien and Mr. Stephens called on governments to adopt more inclusive policies to enable people with Down Syndrome to participate in all levels of social and economic life, and to stop discriminatory policies in Western countries that result in the termination of pregnancies when unborn babies are diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

The Panel discussed national best practices supporting the social inclusion of people with Down Syndrome, as well as challenges to their full participation in social and political life, including access to mainstream education and the labor market.

Ambassador Maria Teresa Almojuela, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the UN and International Organisations in Geneva, who moderated the event, pointed out that while there has been considerable improvement in the recognition of the rights of people with Down Syndrome over the last decades, some challenges and gaps need to be addressed with collective action.

Ambassador Almojuela underlined that promoting the welfare of people with Down’s Syndrome is important for the Philippines, where it is estimated that 1 in 800 babies, or about 1,875 babies, are born with this condition every year. The Philippine government implements various initiatives and programs geared towards their rehabilitation, self-development, and self-reliance, as well as their integration to the mainstream of society pursuant to the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities and has enacted laws to expand the benefits and privileges of persons with disabilities. She highlighted the important role of the civil society and NGOs like the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines. She also noted that the Philippines celebrates February as the National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month, and communities, families and advocates supporting people with Down’s Syndrome have a gathering called Happy Walk every 18 February in major cities across the country.

The side event was co-organized by the Philippine Mission with the Permanent Missions of Poland, Argentina, Lithuania, Panama and the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations in Geneva, together with Jérome Lejeune Foundation, a French NGO working on research and bio-ethical issues on Down Syndrome.

More than 50 participants from the diplomatic community, UN experts and staff, national human rights institutions, civil society and NGOs attended the side event. END

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGenevaUN/