Jinju Holds Event Marking 47th World White Cane Day

About 250 people with visual impairments and their families attend event at Jinju City Disabled Culture and Sports Center on Oct. 23
White Cane Charter reading, commendations and white cane handover ceremony held
Participants highlight need to ensure mobility rights and create a safe walking environment for people with visual impairments

A commemorative event for World White Cane Day was held in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, to promote the mobility rights of people with visual impairments and improve public awareness.

The Jinju branch of the Gyeongnam Association of the Visually Impaired held an event marking the 47th World White Cane Day on October 23 at the Jinju City Disabled Culture and Sports Center.

About 250 people attended, including Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il, people with visual impairments, their families and volunteers.

[Photo courtesy of Jinju City] Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il and attendees from the Gyeongsangnam-do Association of the Visually Impaired pose for a commemorative photo at an event marking the 47th World White Cane Day, held at the Jinju City Disability Culture and Sports Center on the 23rd.

World White Cane Day is an annual observance held on October 15 to raise public awareness of the independence of people with visual impairments and their mobility rights.

A white cane is an assistive device used by people with visual impairments to detect their surroundings and obstacles while walking. It also symbolizes safe mobility and independence.

The event was organized to explain the significance of the white cane and build understanding of the need to ensure mobility rights and improve accessibility, both of which are essential to the daily lives and social participation of people with visual impairments.

The program began with a reading of the White Cane Charter, followed by the presentation of commendations to people recognized for their contributions to advancing the welfare of people with disabilities and a white cane handover ceremony.

Attendees shared the need to create an environment for safe walking and improve public awareness of people with visual impairments.

Seo Changjae, head of the Jinju branch of the Gyeongnam Association of the Visually Impaired, said, "The white cane helps people with visual impairments get around and also symbolizes social participation and independence. Continued attention and support are needed so they can participate more freely in their communities."

Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il said, "I hope this event will help people understand the difficulties that people with visual impairments face in their daily lives and when getting around. We will continue to pursue policies to create a walking environment where people with disabilities can travel safely and support their social participation."

World White Cane Day originated in 1980, when the World Federation of the Blind designated October 15 as an observance day.

In South Korea, annual commemorative events and awareness campaigns also highlight the importance of protecting the rights of people with visual impairments and ensuring their mobility rights.

World White Cane Day is an opportunity to reflect on the mobility rights of people with visual impairments and the conditions for their social participation. Alongside commemorative events, efforts are needed to assess the accessibility of everyday walking environments, including sidewalks and crosswalks, and incorporate the views of people with visual impairments into relevant policies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.