Promoting the rights of Children with disabilities innocenti digest no

Participation and access to opportunities
Children with disabilities, like all other children, have 
a right to express their views freely in all matters 
Box 5.2 Landmines cause disability in Angola
While the total number of landmine victims in 
Angola is not known (due to limited data collec-
tion), government estimates report that there are 
70,000 to 80,000 mine survivors, representing 
nearly 80 per cent of all persons with disabilities. 
The proportion of casualties who are children is 
therefore also unknown. It is estimated, howev-
er, that 85 per cent of mine survivors are young 
people (70 per cent of whom are illiterate).
i
The 
Committee on the Rights of the Child has noted 
with concern the large number of landmines 
remaining across the country and continuing to 
cause injuries to children and pose a threat to 
their survival and development.
ii
There are few facilities available for people with 
physical disabilities in Angola and the provision 
of any type of assistance, particularly outside 
major cities, has been significantly affected by 
the long years of armed conflict.
iii
Sources:
i 
Landmine Monitor Report 2006, Angola,
org/lm/2006/angola>.
ii
 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding 
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the 
Child (Angola), 1 October 2004, CRC/C/15/Add.246.
iii
 Landmine Monitor Report 2004 Angola,
org/lm/2004/angola#Heading3235>. 

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Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities
Innocenti Digest No. 13
affecting them, and to have these views given due 
weight in accordance with the age and maturity 
of the child.
70
All too often, however, there is a 
reluctance to recognize the competence of children 
with disabilities to contribute effectively to decision-
making processes. This can be compounded by 
attitudes of caretakers, teachers and even parents, 
who may underestimate the ability of certain 
children to contribute a valid opinion. Changing 
such views about the ability of these children 
to participate – or to benefit from support in