The International Day of the Deaf People

Equity or equality for deaf people is a new goal for the Royal Government of Cambodia, to encourage and promote the rights of quality living and other rights of deaf people, as they have equal rights to non-disabled people.

Based on the commitment and the spirit of focusing on people with disabilities, on the morning of 22^nd of October 2013, the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, via Disability Action Council collaborating with the Foundation for Persons with Disabilities organized the event for International Day of the Deaf People under the theme of “Equality for Deaf People”.

This celebration is endorsed by His Excellency Vong Soth, the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, His Excellency Ambassadors of Royal Governments and States, Development Partner Organizations, National and International Organizations, and all members of the Disability Action Council together with about 360 deaf people.

His Excellency Em Chan Makara, Secretary General of Disability Action Council Secretariat General remarks that this International Day of the Deaf People 2013 shows a clear willingness and involvement from the Royal Government of Cambodia to raise and respect the rights of persons with disabilities according to the Law on the Protection and the Promotion the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

His Excellency Em Chan Makara added, that in order to fulfill the duties as the state party of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and as a signatory of state for the Asia and Pacific Decade of the Disabled Persons 2013-2022, Strategic Incheon Strategy “Make the Right Real”, the Royal Government of Cambodia has given additional responsibilities to the Disability Action Council to organize National and International Events for Persons with Disabilities, develop the National Strategic Plan and Action Plan, sustainable development for persons with disabilities, coordinate for implementation of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and report to the Royal Government of Cambodia on the situation of Persons with Disabilities.

According to the National Census 2008, there are about 192,538 persons with disabilities equating to 1.44 percent of total population. This includes about 8.70 percent with speaking impairment and 7.90 percent with hearing impairment. Deaf people face many difficulties such as speaking, listening, communication affecting their job seeking opportunities and they are limited involvement in social activities.

His Excellency Em Chan Makara states that the 5^th mandate of the Royal Government of Cambodia prioritizes the disability issue as the first priority of many other issues. The rectangular strategy, phase 3, rectangle 4, side 3, and point 4 states that; continuously implementing the national policies for the disabled through Disability Action Council, law enforcement on the Law of the Protection and the Promotion on the Rights of Persons with Disability, encourages the promotion on the rights and social welfare according to the Convention of the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities together with the improvement of the quality and efficiency of the services of Foundation of Persons with Disabilities.

His Excellency Vong Soth has stated that the International Day for the Deaf People was started by global members in 1958. Since then, about 133 country members around the world have been organizing this phenomenon in different ways including, parades, events, discussion conferences, and concerts.

His Excellency has congratulated Disability Action Council, Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, and other relevant institutions, organizations, and development partners who have cooperated and worked for the benefits of persons with disabilities, achieving many results. He is also appreciative of activities of landmine release, landmine victim survival, law enforcement of traffic law, and elimination of domestic violence, the programme on the prevention of disability, vaccination policy, medical therapy, physiotherapy, and physical rehabilitation that significantly reduce the number of disabilities.

His Excellency Vong Soth has clarified that the achievements are the concrete evidence of paying attention to the prevention of disability, supporting and encouraging the disabled in order to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, and their rehabilitation for integration into economic development.

His Excellency Vong Soth has also stated that in response to the disabled issues, the Royal Government of Cambodia is ready to cooperate with the United Nation Committee Asia Pacific for fund raising to support the implementation of the Asia Pacific Decade of the Disabled 2013-2022, Incheon Strategy “Make the Rights Real”. His Excellency has also offered a number of strategic ideas to increase and promote the rights of persons with disabilities and social welfare for persons with disabilities, for they have equal rights with non-disabled persons.

The representative of deaf people, Mrs. Sreng Vanny has expressed that she is very appreciative, because she sees deaf people as having the capability to work the same as non-disabled people. She also thanks the Royal Government of Cambodia for arranging this event for the deaf people.

Mrs. Sreng Vanny stated that; “I would like to thank very much leaders at all levels who have arranged this event for deaf people, recognising that they have rights to express their own ideas and leaders understand about the welfare of deaf people, that they are encouraged to be involved in other social activities”.

Mrs. Sreng Vanny says to Cambodian people with disabilities, not to be desperate for your life and that all persons with disabilities should be involved in the action of making the rights real. “We have to persevere with hard work and education, for general knowledge and skills; thus, you will be able to get a job like I have”.

Mrs. Sreng Vanny thanks you, the Royal Government of Cambodia and other relevant Royal Government workers who have supported persons with disabilities in the spirit of encouragement, and established communication systems for persons with disabilities so they can have an appropriate job according to their capability.