MOHAMMAD YAASEEN EDOO
Disability Rights Activist
Queen’s Young Leader
Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society
Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, society or team. Leaders are known to be people who take sound and difficult decisions. They have a clear vision, establish achievable goals and work towards their realisation. Persons with disabilities are the perfect example of the global disability rights movement’s with its slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”. This statement is a perfect example of the fact that people with disabilities should be put in the forefront when it comes to leadership and decision-making policy. 
Persons with disabilities are the spokespersons and best people on disability matters based on their daily life experience living with disabilities. For example, persons with physical disabilities understand the importance of accessibility such as ramps and lifts in our roads and buildings respectively than anybody. Persons with visual impairment are the best to advise on the needs of braille signs on the pavement, braille signs on traffic light buttons and braille markings in lift pads and same for our friends with hearing impairment and other types of disabilities. Participation and representation of persons with disabilities is vital towards an inclusive society to shape the conditions of their lives. Disability Rights Activists are the best advisors for any government when it concerns development in the disability sector. It is an undeniable fact that during the past decades we have witnessed how Disability Rights Activists brought positive changes in their communities, countries and have been leading many initiatives to advance their rights and wellbeing. Just to name a few Mr. Javed Abidi in India fought for the first disability law known as The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act which ensure rights of Indians with disabilities are fully respected and implemented, Mrs. Judith Heumann in United States fought for the first American disability law called American with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make sure rights of Americans with disabilities are fully respected and implemented. These two Disability Rights Activists have been instrumental in shaping the conditions of their respective citizens with disabilities in their respective countries. I have had the pleasure and honour to personally meet Mr. Javed Abidi twice, the first time when he came to Mauritius in December 2011 and second time in June 2014 at the United Nations in New York for the Conference of States Parties.
However, it is with deep regret and anger I witnessed many people without disabilities are tampering on disability matters while they do not have any knowledge and life experiences. I have the impression that disability is a sector in which many people want to bring changes for namesake and recognition. Worst they would call themselves Disability Rights Activists. They use Disability Rights Activists who allow themselves to be manipulated and blindly believe in them to obtain information and would write press articles to showcase as if they are the ones claiming this and this must be done for an inclusive society and country for persons with disabilities. Normally, such people bring more barriers and more problems than solutions in society and country in the disability sector. Frequently, people without disabilities create havoc among persons with disabilities. They are the source of division and disunity among persons with disabilities and Disability Rights Activists. As an experienced Disability Rights Activist, I know such people’s system of work and so I stay alert and never believe nor trust them. I ask my other friends Disability Rights Activist to be cautious.
This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” emphasizes on the importance of empowering persons with disabilities to take the lead in shaping their own destinies and contribution to society. Therefore, I make a humble appeal to the Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam and his government through the parent ministry of social security and all ministries to ensure that Disability Rights Activists are taken onboard in all governmental policies and projects across ministries, municipalities, district councils, parastatal bodies amongst others in order to transform our beloved country the Republic of Mauritius into an inclusive country and society.