Disability in Samoa

According to data collected in 2006, roughly 2,100 people live with disabilities in Samoa.^[1] The country's constitution does not specifically address or protect the rights of persons with disabilities, nor does it prohibit discrimination against them.^[2] Samoa, while not currently a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has expressed an interest in possibly acceding to it in the future.^[3]

In response to the needs of persons with disabilities, the Samoan government established a National Disabilities Taskforce. This group is responsible for developing and implementing programmes designed to assist individuals with disabilities. The taskforce operates under the guidelines set by the National Policy and National Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities, which were instituted in 2009.^[3] Furthermore, the leading disability rights advocacy organisation in the country, Nuanua O Le Alofa, was founded in 2001.^[4] It served as the host for the 5th Pacific Regional Conference on Disability in 2017.^[5]

On the international sports stage, Samoa has been represented in each Summer Paralympics since the 2000 Summer Paralympics, although the country has not yet participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.^[6]

References

^ "Samoa National Population and Housing Census 2006". sbs.gov.ws. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
^ Universal Periodic Review: Summary of Stakeholder Submissions: Samoa A/HRC/ WG.6/11/WSM/3 (2–13 May 2011), para 7, 12-13, 15-16, 21, 27-29
^ ^a ^b Universal Periodic Review: Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Samoa A/HRC/WG.6/11/WSM/1 (2–13 May 2011), para 2, 11-12, 43-44, 46, 49, 51-53, 57, 69, 70-71
^ Fruean, Adel (2018-11-16). "Club supports disability organisation". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
^ Soloi, Seia (2017-02-21). "Pacific Conference on Disability begins". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
^ Samoa at the Paralympics on paralympic.org