Launching Ceremony on the National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 and the Five Years Anniversary of the Law of the Protection and Promotion on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

On July 03, 2014, Samdach Decho Hun Sen, the Prime Ministry of Cambodia Royal Government and the honor president of Disability Action Council came for the presidency of the event of launching on the “National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018” and the Five Years Anniversary of the Law of the Protection and Promotion on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Koh Pech.

There are delegate from honor high senior government officers, Disability Action Council officers, national and international organization and civil society, and including many hundreds of Persons with Disabilities participated in this launching on the implementation of “National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018”.

His Excellency Em Chan Makara, Secretary General of Disability Action Council raises that National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 has 10 important points. His Excellency continues that this national strategy was development to fulfill the gaps and complement existing policies; for, there is a response to new challenges of integration Persons with Disabilities into development and Cambodia society at the present.

His Excellency Em Chan Makara also raised that the launching of National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 is a continuous implementation tool to respond to national policy, a framework to respond to problems of Persons with Disabilities, and a guiding to promote the disability sector. This national strategy is a road map to direct and obligate on Persons with Disabilities to a response to the benefits of Persons with Disabilities in Cambodian through political programmes and Rectangular Strategy, phase III of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

In additional, this strategic plan responds to international duties that the Royal Government of Cambodia has adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Incheon Strategy “make the right real” Asia-Pacific Disabled Decade 2013-2022, and the implementation on the Law on the Protection and the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

His Excellency General Young Secretary of Disability Action Council shown his prospective that this National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 will help Persons with Disabilities and their families to enhance quality of life and full equally and actively involve society with respect and dignity.

The report of census 2013, show that there are 301,629 Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia. Among these, Women with Disabilities is 144,622, and Children with Disabilities age from 0 year of age to 14 years of age is 32,056, equals to 10.63 per cent to total publication.

According to the message was distributed to the delegates and all participants who come to this morning event, Samdach Techo Hun Sen has stated that Persons with Disabilities are the person’s need to be paid attention on and have the rights the same as non-disabled persons. Samdach encourages to integrate Persons with Disabilities into all social activities and to eliminate behavior of looking down to Persons with Disabilities.

According to the same message above, Samdach Techo has stated as follow “Persons with Disabilities and Children with Disabilities have to be integrated into all developmental activities. There must not isolate Persons with Disabilities. There must be changed the behavior of social view on Persons with Disabilities that they are recognized both their activities and their voice that lead to the promotion to social development”.

Samdach Prime Minister also stated his anticipation that this National Disability Strategic Plan has 5 years mandate will offer actual resolution and good practice, so, it is a contribution to effectively develop and enhance the national capability. This strategic plan will contribute to inspire the Cambodian society to step forward in order to eradicate all barriers and provide opportunity to Persons with Disabilities to serve also social affairs in Cambodia.

Please notice that National Disability Strategic Plan 2014-2018 has 10 key important points such as:

1. Poverty reduction of Persons with Disabilities through the promotion of job placement and work accommodation for Persons with Disabilities, for they can improve their livelihood and strenghtening their ownership.
2. Provide to the disabled for the health services with quality and equity and also the services of physical and mental rehabilitation.
3. Increase the intevention on the juridic service to reduce and then eliminate the discrimination abuse, threat, and exploitation on the disabled.
4. Strenghtening and enhancing the freedom, personal security, and the management on the financial risk of charity at the rescued situation and disaster of Persons with Disabilities.
5. Ensure that Persons with Disabilities have ability to get education services and vocatioal training with quality and equity.
6. Promote the participation of Persons with Disabilities, advocacy, available information for the disabled, and involve in political regimes.
7. Ensure the envolvment of the disabled in social activities such as culture, religions, sport, arts, entertainment, and othere activities.
8. Develop and improve the accessibility in use the physical environment, means of public transportation, information technology, and communication with the disabled.
9. Ensure the gender equality and promote equality of women and children with disabilities.
10. Strengthening and enhancing the cooperation among international level, inter-regional level, regional level, sub regional level, national level, sub-national lelel.