WHILE the country celebrated Human Rights Day yesterday, people living with disabilities were still marginalised.

This is according to independent disability analyst and human rights activist Majic Nkhwashu, who told Sowetan that people with disabilities had no reason to celebrate.

"We are not free yet. I don't think government will ever manage to get its departments to employ at least 2% of the disabled ."

Nkhwashu said the biggest challenge was the attitude of abled persons towards them and that the public transport modes did not accommodate them. "Disabled people struggle to access transport. It is so difficult to live in this country as a disabled person."

SA Human Rights Day spokesman Isaac Mangena said despite the positive development, the SAHRC remained concerned about the criminalisation of torture, violence against women and girls, lack of access to water and sanitation, access to basic education, foreign migrants and discrimination against persons with disabilities at workplaces.

Women and Men Against Child Abuse advocacy manager Germaine Vogel said though she was proud to celebrate Human Rights Day, the country had a lot to do to decrease violence against women and children. - bambalelep@sowetan.co.za