LAHORE: The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has formally brought to the attention of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) the urgent need to address exclusionary and derogatory language in official government documents related to persons with disabilities.
In a detailed letter to the NCHR, CPDI's Executive Director, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, highlighted several critical issues that necessitate immediate intervention to promote dignity, respect, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities in Pakistan. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali emphasised the importance of this issue in his communication with the NCHR.
He pointed out that the Finance Division's ‘Procedure for Purchase of Bahbood Saving Certificate (BSC) by a Physically Challenged Person’ contains exclusionary language that inadvertently marginalises persons with disabilities. ‘The title itself excludes persons with sensory and intellectual disabilities, though the procedure covers all disabilities. It should be rephrased as 'Procedure for Purchase of BHC by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs),’ he stated.
In addition to the title, he highlighted specific derogatory terms used in the document, such as ‘mentally retarded’ and ‘deaf and dumb,’ which are offensive and outdated. ‘Instead of using terms like 'physically challenged,' it is better to describe them as people with physical impairments. Similarly, use 'people who are blind' instead of 'the blind' or 'visually challenged,' and refer to 'people with speech and hearing impairments' rather than 'speech and hearing impaired,’ he explained.
He also criticised the requirement for persons with disabilities to furnish an indemnity on stamp paper, calling it burdensome and unnecessary. ‘This requirement serves no purpose other than increasing the cost for investors with disabilities in terms of both time and money. They should be facilitated through an environment that promotes ease of doing business rather than being discouraged,’ he said. He noted that other government entities, such as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Social Welfare Departments, and the National Savings Organisation (NSO), also use outdated and offensive terms to describe persons with disabilities. ‘Government departments must revise their terminology and adopt more respectful and inclusive language to ensure that persons with disabilities are not solely defined by their disabilities," he emphasised. Specific derogatory terms used by these entities include ‘mentally retarded,’ ‘deaf and dumb,’ ‘crippled,’ and ‘mentally disabled.’ Alongside the letter to the Finance Division, CPDI enclosed ‘Guidelines for Referring to Persons with Disabilities in Official Government Documents and Conversations,’ which advocate for people-first language to ensure respectful and appropriate terminology.
‘The way we refer to persons with disabilities in official documents significantly impacts their dignity, respect, and inclusion in society,’ Ali emphasised.
The guidelines provide comprehensive instructions on preferred terminology and the importance of people-first language, aligning with both national and international standards for the rights of persons with disabilities. In his letter to the NCHR Chairperson, Ms Rabiya Javeri Agha, he requested prompt action under Rule 3 of the National Commission for Human Rights (Complaint) Rules 2015 to address these concerns.
‘We respectfully request that the NCHR take prompt action to address the concerns raised in our letter to the Finance Division and to advocate for the adoption of the enclosed guidelines,’ he wrote. He underscored the importance of NCHR's intervention in promoting dignity, respect, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities in Pakistan.