The persons with disability face various forms of discrimination, social exclusion and marginalisation, which deprive them of their right to active participation in development in its various forms and contexts. This by itself negates the laudable concept of social justice. To be meaningful and purposeful, social justice must be rooted in the acceptance of human dignity of every human being," said Dr. Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, of the Commission in his inaugural address at the Workshop on Disability organized by the Commission at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad on 29 October 2004.
He underscored the need for shifting the focus from 'welfare' to 'rights' of the disabled in every society. He observed that no meaningful change could come about for persons with disabilities unless the various social and economic processes of civil society are redefined on disability-inclusive norms.
Justice Anand pointed out that incorporating a disability perspective in legal education would ensure better protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, as this would give birth to a new generation of disability sensitive legal practitioners.
The three-day Workshop was organized by the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as part of a project to promote the human rights of persons with disabilities.