Jakarta, Kartunet.com - 35 visually impaired individuals from various sectors in DKI Jakarta province participated in human rights advocacy training organized by the Regional Board of the Indonesian Blind Association (DPD PERTUNI) DKI Jakarta and P.T. Garuda Indonesia TBK.
The training, held on Saturday-Sunday, July 2-3, 2011, at Wisma SLB-A Pembina Tingkat Nasional Lebak Bulus, Cilandak, South Jakarta, also invited a commissioner from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) as a
speaker, Dr. Saharuddin Daming, who is also visually impaired. The topics covered included: what are human rights, what is advocacy, and strategies for conducting advocacy.
According to Ade Ismail, the head of the organizing committee, the purpose of this event was for visually impaired people to be able to advocate for themselves in cases of discrimination and to advocate for themselves in a focused and coordinated manner. Furthermore, it also aimed to help them advocate for others who experience discrimination and similar issues.
This visually impaired migrant from Kalimantan also shared that the idea for this event had been around for quite some time, about two years ago. Due to numerous obstacles in various aspects, the event could only be held now with the support of Dr. Saharuddin Daming and P.T. Garuda Indonesia TBK.
Although this was the first advocacy training in Jakarta, the participants' enthusiasm was very evident. Especially when participants were tasked with practicing the steps in advocacy strategies. Participants were divided into five groups and had to demonstrate the given advocacy steps according to the case themes they chose.
The participants' enthusiasm grew even more, becoming quite lively, when all participants were tasked with practicing one advocacy strategy: demonstrating. Participants were divided into several groups. Two participants were even assigned to be provocateurs.
Here, participants were required to carry out their tasks according to the roles assigned by the committee. A demonstration ensued, and clashes were unavoidable. Nevertheless, this did not diminish the participants' enthusiasm.
Ade Ismail hopes that this training will foster awareness among every visually impaired person regarding their rights as individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, he also hopes that in the future, there will be an advocacy team from within the visually impaired community capable of fighting for their community's rights. (Rafik)