"Both Mobility and Labor Rights Neglected" Gwangju Disabled Persons Rally

'Disability Discrimination Abolition Rally' Held at 5·18 Gwangjang

Disabled People on the Brink... "Severely Lacking Transportation"

March Through Streets Followed by Submission of Disability Rights Guarantee Proposal to City

Disabled organizations in Gwangju are holding a rally on the 21st at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, urging the abolition of discrimination.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

People with disabilities in the Gwangju area held a rally to mark the 43rd Disability Day, urging the abolition of discrimination in mobility rights and labor rights.

The 420 Joint Struggle Group for the Abolition of Disability Discrimination, composed of 25 organizations including the Gwangju Disability Discrimination Abolition Solidarity, held a "Resolution Rally for the Abolition of Disability Discrimination" on the morning of the 21st at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, with about 200 citizens and activists in attendance.

The group stated, "There is an extremely insufficient number of transportation options available for people with disabilities living in Gwangju," adding, "The number of low-floor buses is only about 30%, far below the legally mandated introduction quota. Special transportation services for the mobility-impaired, such as those using wheelchairs, number only 116 vehicles, and the rented taxis were completely replaced by voucher taxis without any discussion."

They also pointed out, "Without guaranteed mobility rights, labor rights are also not being secured," and criticized, "'Customized public jobs for people with disabilities' was a pledge made by Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung, who took office last year, but even after one year in office, it has yet to be implemented."

They continued, "The city enacted related ordinances in 2006, the first nationwide, to support the independence of people with severe disabilities, but over more than 15 years, no systematic mid- to long-term support plans or annual implementation plans for independent living support have been established. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the 'Gwangju Metropolitan City Five-Year Plan for Supporting Independent Living of People with Disabilities' to build a systematic support system."

In particular, they appealed, "We are not people who perform tricks to enhance the achievements of the mayor and city council members. Even though we have raised the same demands for the abolition of disability discrimination last year and this year, nothing has changed despite changes in the mayor, city council members, and responsible officials."

For the 'March to Urge Guarantee of Mobility Rights,' the group took the subway from Munhwa Jeondang Station to Kim Dae-jung Convention Center Station, then marched through the Sangmu district and the Bank of Korea, heading towards Gwangju City Hall.

The group delivered to the Gwangju city authorities a disability rights guarantee proposal including ▲guarantee of mobility rights for the mobility-impaired ▲guarantee of labor rights for people with severe disabilities ▲deinstitutionalization and independent living support ▲guarantee of independent living rights ▲guarantee of health rights and medical accessibility ▲support and rights guarantee for women with disabilities ▲guarantee of lifelong education rights ▲establishment of a 24-hour support system for people with developmental disabilities ▲preparation of support measures for people with brain lesion disabilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.