The Department of Communications, in partnership with the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development, is hosting the Pamoja 2005 SADC Disability Conference.
The conference will be held at Emperors Palace, Gauteng, 5 and 6 October and will be attended by representatives of SADC countries. It is also on the agenda of the UN, says Albi Modise, director of media and communications at the department.
The conference will provide a platform for dialogue between disabled people of the SADC region in preparation for WSIS to be held in Tunisia, Tunis, at the end of the year, he says.
Pamoja 2005 hopes to assist in developing a common understanding of the role and needs of people with disabilities in an inclusive information society as well as identify the specific ICT challenges to disabled people, with a particular focus on the barriers to socio-economic participation, says Modise.
"Delegates hope to develop concrete recommendations and a programme of action to implement the WSIS declaration of principles and action plan with special focus on meeting the needs of people with disabilities," he adds.
Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri will lead the conference. She will also be a keynote speaker alongside deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
For more information, contact Zodumo Mbuli on (012) 427-8100 or zodumo@doc.gov.za.
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