AWDP-Bangladesh

We are deeply shocked!
AWDP Bangladesh expresses its deepest shock to the untimely and tragic demise of Mr. George Daniel, 45, on 7 April 2010. George Daniel was the Deputy Chairperson of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) with the responsibilities for Human Rights and Chairperson of DPI North America and the Caribbean (DPI NAC).

George Daniel was a powerful voice for the rights and freedom of people with disabilities around the world and a strong source of inspiration of AWDP members in Bangladesh.

• Daniel was a passionate and outspoken advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.

• Mr. Daniel’s dedication to equality of ability is perhaps best illustrated when he filed a motion against the judicial arm of the State of Trinidad and Tobago for violating his constitutional right to liberty, when he discovered he could not gain access to the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain in his country.

• George Daniel came into light in the global disability movement when he and his supporters held fast for 116 days for establishing the rights for PWDs.

• Mr. Daniel’s dedication to equality of ability is perhaps best illustrated when he filed a motion against the judicial arm of the State of Trinidad and Tobago for violating his constitutional right to liberty, when he discovered he could not gain access to the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain in his country.

• Daniel recognized that the steps leading into the Hall of Justice preventing him access without having someone else pull his wheelchair up the steps backward, he realized those same steps stopped every person with a disability from fully participating in this arm of government with dignity and autonomy.

• On July 20th, 2007, he won a historic victory for disabled rights, a ruling by High Court Justice Nolan Bereaux, who agreed that the State had indeed violated Mr. Daniel’s right to liberty by not providing him equal access. Mr. Daniel’s refusal to sit quietly at the bottom of the steps was an immeasurable move forward in the struggle for disability rights in the Caribbean.

• Mr. Daniel proudly represented and served for persons as well as persons without disabilities. He believed that the rights of every human should be respected.

We have our same feelings with DPI and DPI NAC that the world has lost a great advocate for rights of persons with disabilities. He has left us with a legacy that proves that the power of one applies to everyone.

AWDP-Bangladesh, on behalf of all its members and supporters expresses its condolence to his family, near and dear ones and pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul. There’s no doubt that people with disabilities and rights activists around the world, will follow him, tomorrow or the day after!

Source: Disabled Peoples' International North America and the Caribbean,
http://caribbean.dpi.org/index.htm