The Government of Namibia in partnership with the United Nations yesterday commenced the second quarterly meeting of the National Disability Forum. The forum puts focus on the rights of persons with disability. The purpose of the forum is to bring together a cross-section of stakeholders with an interest in the rights of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to promote and support Government's interventions on the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes to mainstream disability. Director of Marginalised Communities and Disability Affairs in the presidency Niita Ipinge at the meeting said the forum is expected to contribute to strengthening coordination and ensuring equal human rights to all persons with disabilities. Ipinge said the national work plan which was crafted at the forums first meeting earlier this year is at its final stages. She, however, informed the meeting that the cost implications of that plan should be relooked while encouraging the members of the forum to take their role seriously. Speaking at the same event Dr Armstrong Alexis, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP said that the forum serves as a testimony of commitment by those involved in embracing people with disabilities and mainstream the differently able. He said that often people with disabilities are overlooked and treated as second class citizens. Forums like this one provide persons with disabilities with a voice and a platform to be heard said, Alexis. Alexis noted the UN's commitment to be continuously involved in the project. The 2011 National Population and Housing Census determined that there were over 90 000 persons with disabilities living in Namibia. That represents about 4,7% of the Namibian population.