The Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated every March 1 worldwide. This date aims at promoting the end of every type of discrimination and celebrating the right of every person to lead a full, productive life in dignity.
In 2013, the UN General Assembly established the Zero Discrimination Day following the launching of the campaign in favor of Zero Discrimination by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS in the context of the World AIDS Day.
In 2022, this critical date celebration is under the slogan “Let´s remove laws that affect, let´s create laws that empower”, and from Fundación Comparlante we support it by working this and every day to remove all the forms of discrimination by promoting the right of all people to live in dignity.
We understand that one of the sectors of society the most severely affected by discrimination is persons with disabilities. In this regard, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) points out in Article 5, named “Equality and non-discrimination”, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4: the recognition of rights equality.
Throughout my life, recognizing myself as a blind person, the statement of “zero discrimination” I could experience it with the full enjoyment of fundamental rights such as the right to education. It is worth to mention that having finished all the levels until reaching the University was possible with the help of the needed supports to be in equal condition to the rest of people, that is to me, zero discrimination.
Another right to which I had accessed was a decent job. Much more than being included in the labor field, this means to work in equal opportunities as my workmates, and, at the same time, this allows me to continue growing personally and professionally.
In Argentina, as well as in the Legislation of other countries in the region, Law 22.431 states a minimum statutory quota of 4% for persons with disabilities from the total of employees in the National State. To state this percentage “level” of employees represents a “positive discrimination”. Positive discrimination, also known as positive action or affirmative action, refers to a set of policies and practices within a Government and organization that looks for increasing the representation of determined groups, in this case, persons with any kind of disability.
Fundación Comparlante works to promote rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. To us, positive discrimination is a visibility stage. However, we can only create a society with zero discrimination as soon as we achieve equity.