Engagement and Disability Rights

The Special Olympics World Winter Games ended this week in South Korea.  This event brought together athletes with special needs from all over the world…and with them international attention on the importance of human and disability rights.  South Korea capitalized upon the event to showcase its commitment to human rights, Ma Young-sam, Ambassador for public diplomacy at the Korean ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated, “The Special Olympics uplifts Korea’s national image.  The Special Olympics itself gives a positive image of how Korea is inclusive and accommodating to people with intellectual disabilities.” Through the engagement of participants from several countries, united in their participation in the games, the potential to engage a larger international policy discussion on human rights has emerged.  On Wednesday, a global development summit regarding exclusion of people with intellectual disabilities was held in South Korea that focused policy maker’s attention on relevant discussions, such as the 2011 United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, and urged continued efforts in this area.  Through these events, and others like them, more attention is being given to this important topic.  In a political toolkit, public diplomacy may not hold the surgical precision of a missile or other hard power technique, but PD strategies have the potential to garner soft power, a strength that can be effective in slowly, but powerfully changing perspectives.