Global Disability Watch

Powering Advocacy

  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • Member organisations
  • Resources
    • Literature
    • Videos
    • DGS Journal
    • Events
    • GDW News
  • Contact
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Latin America & Caribbean
    • Middle East
  • Reports
  • Field Pulse
  • Policy Watch
  • News Picks
  • Write Inside
  • Disability & Development
You are here: Home / Latin America / Bolivian disabled activists suspended from bridge in protest

Bolivian disabled activists suspended from bridge in protest

28th February 2016 by Global Disability Watch

A group of disabled people was hanging for several hours off a bridge in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba in protest at the lack of support for disabled people by a government they claim has failed to listen and respond to their demands.

This is the latest in a series of protests and actions by frustrated disability activists seeking to raise awareness about the situation confronting disabled people in the country and to get their government to support. 

The government budget allocated to disabled people is $900,000, but activists claim that only half is paid out to disabled people, the other half used instead to fund projects. The protesters say this is not enough and are asking for the monthly state benefits to be raised to 500 bolivianos (US$70 a month). 

Those protesting stated that since the government has not responded, they were forced to resort to drastic measures. The protest blocked traffic for several hours, with protesters announcing they will continue protesting until they get the benefits they have been demanding for months. 

Protesters also threatened to take their campaign to President Evo Morales in La Paz if their needs are not met and a massive March is planned on wheelchairs all the way to the Bolivian capital. Protesters claimed they had attempted to explain the reasons for the protest to Evo Morales during a ceremony, but were met by police repression.

Related Posts

  • Sexual violence on indigenous deaf women in GuatemalaSexual violence on indigenous deaf women in Guatemala
  • Radio broadcaster films and mocks disabled person in ColombiaRadio broadcaster films and mocks disabled person in Colombia
  • My last chance: the story of Qusai, a disabled Syrian refugeeMy last chance: the story of Qusai, a disabled Syrian refugee

Filed Under: Latin America, News Tagged With: Benefits, Bolivia, Evo Morales, Latin America, Protest

Latest

  • UN Report on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
  • Canada’s first federal disability law- gaps and ways forward
  • Mothers of children with cerebral palsy trained to make APT Chairs
  • Ghanaian mothers of children with cerebral palsy told to ‘seek help’
Tweets by @GlobalDWatch

Publication Monitor

  1. Discrimination and Violence Against Children With Albinism in Cameroon
  2. Albinism: Report on Investigative Mission on the Situation of Children with Albinism in Temporary Holding Shelters - Tanzania
  3. Research Toolkit for Disabled People’s Organisations: How to undertake and use applied research, LCI London
  4. Equal Access Monitor: Handicap International. Feb 2016
  5. Disability and Rehabilitation Services in Nagaland
  6. Disability & Rehabilitation in the North East of India: working paper

Newsletters

  • August 2016: Lesotho National Federation of the Disabled

Follow us

Join our mailing list

Follow us

GDW

  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Member Orgs

Pages

  • Reports
  • Field Pulse
  • Policy Watch
  • News Picks
  • Development
  • Migration

Be Part of GDW

  • Share a story
  • Become a member organisation

Search

Copyright 2014-20 © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in