According to Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities, persons with disabilities are any person who experiences physical, intellectual, mental, and/or sensory limitations for a long period of time. In their interactions, they may experience obstacles and difficulties in participating fully and effectively. This law also classifies the types of persons with disabilities into four categories: physical, intellectual, mental, and sensory, which can be experienced singly, multiple, or over a long period of time.
As Indonesian citizens, people with disabilities have equal rights and status before the law and government. Article 27 of Law Number 8 of 2016 states that the central and regional governments are required to plan, organize, and evaluate the implementation of respect, protection, and fulfillment of the rights of people with disabilities, which are formulated in the master plan.
This is reinforced by the Letter of the Minister of Home Affairs in 2023 Number 100.2.2.6/5749/OTDA concerning the Acceleration of the Formation of Regional Legal Products regulating Persons with Disabilities, which asks regional governments to prioritize the formation of regional legal products. Especially regional regulations, in order to accelerate the realization of guaranteed protection and fulfillment of the rights of persons with disabilities.
In a focused discussion conducted by the Partnership and attended by representatives from 12 organizations active in issues of people with disabilities in Sigi Regency online on June 11, 2024, several conditions related to people with disabilities in Sigi were found.
Some of these conditions include stigma and stereotype negative, self-confidence and self-acceptance. There is also access to basic services, especially education for children with disabilities, access to jobs and business capital, capacity and human resources (HR), to participation in development. This discussion highlights the aspect of social acceptance, namely the acceptance of the wider community in Sigi Regency towards people with disabilities and the fulfillment of their rights.
Through the Estungkara program, KEMITRAAN together with the KARSA Institute will carry out the activity of compiling the Academic Manuscript of the Sigi Regency Disability Bylaw. This activity aims to compile an academic manuscript through participation. Involving active and meaningful participation from people with disabilities, their representative organizations, and stakeholders related. Then it became an accompanying document for the Sigi Disability Bylaw. This event was held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the KARSA office Institute. From the results of the FGD, there are several things that are important points.
Suherman, Secretary of the Social Services Division of Sigi Regency, stated that the Disability Bill has been drafted by the Sigi Regency Social Services. However, it is still in the revision stage by Special Committee 2 of the Sigi Regency DPRD. The plan is that this Bill will be ratified in August and will be realized in 2025. Public tests have also been conducted three times, inviting related agencies and organizations of people with disabilities.
The drafting of this Draft Regional Regulation involves various parties. Including the Regional Development Planning Research and Innovation Agency, the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Agency, the Education Agency, the Manpower and Transmigration Agency, the National Unity and Politics Agency, and other related agencies. The Special Committee has also communicated with the Ministry of Social Affairs at the Central Sulawesi level to assist in terms of budget. Currently, around 1,625 data on people with disabilities have been successfully recorded, although not specifically based on gender, age, and type of disability.
Indonesian Association of Disabled People, M. Yusuf said, the results of discussions with several organizations of disabled people showed that there is still a stigma received by people with disabilities. Many regulations are still sectoral and do not involve people with disabilities and do not see what their needs are.
This stigma also makes many families who have members with disabilities cover it up. Considering it as a disgrace, so that people with disabilities are often considered trivial and underestimated in contributing to daily activities. In fact, when people with disabilities become victims of sexual violence, the lack of Sign Language Interpreters (JBI) makes cases often covered up and not dare to be told again because it is considered embarrassing to the family.
Rahma from HWDI also agreed with this. That the basic need in the preparation of the Disability Bylaw is truly detailed data on people with disabilities so that their needs can be right on target. The provision of inclusive JBI is also very important, especially for victims of sexual violence who need JBI assistance to convey the chronology of events. JBI is also needed to access other basic services such as population administration services and health services. In Palu City and Sigi Regency, the number of JBI is still very minimal, even only three people.
Taufik from Sikola Mombine added that people with disabilities are often made objects or complements in every regulation drafting. Let alone to fulfill basic service access for people with disabilities, even data on people with disabilities is still largely unrecorded. There was a case in a village where a resident was a person with disabilities. However, his neighbors did not know his name and only called him by the name "sleep" which means unable to speak. This shows the minimal involvement of people with disabilities in the government sector, especially in the preparation of the Sigi Regency Disability Bylaw.
The hope with this FGD is that the drafting of the Disability Bylaw truly pays attention to the basic needs of people with disabilities. Provides a safe space for them, and eliminates the derogatory stigma. If not, then the drafting of the bylaw will be in vain because the impact and results will not be felt by people with disabilities.
