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Sec. Em Chan Makara Celebrates Progress Made for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia

KAMPONG SPEU: Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Em Chan Makara, stated that all persons with disabilities have the right to choose their jobs freely, enjoy decent and favorable working conditions and benefit from assistance programs for the unemployed.

On May 10, 2023, Sec. Em Chan Makara spoke at the opening ceremony for the training course on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Human Rights Standards and National Legal Standards in the Protection of Persons with Disabilities in Kampong Speu. The ceremony was attended by Cambodia’s representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Roueida El Hage, and Representative of the Governor of Kampong Speu Province, Long Bonareth.

During his speech, Sec. Makara certified that persons with disabilities have the right to standardized basic and affordable healthcare, including physical, mental and reproductive health services. They should also be afforded access to medical equipment in rehabilitation centers and state hospitals. He added that all persons with disabilities have the right to social security, which helps them to lead a decent life.

The Secretary of State pointed out that over the past decade, the disability sector has improved, noting an increase in accessibility to public services and the implementation of other national initiatives such as social protection programs that give priority to persons with disabilities.

Representative of the Governor of Kampong Speu Province, Long Bonareth, said that the new training course provides an opportunity for the Kampong Speu Disability Action Council (DAC) to expand its knowledge in professional practices based on the information contained in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The council will then be able to disseminate well-researched information to stakeholders and communities in order to raise awareness and promote participation in the convention’s goals.

Cambodia’s OHCHR Representative, Roueida El Hage stressed that persons with disabilities should have access to a wider environment to explore their potential, stating that accessibility is a prerequisite for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully and equally in society. Without access to physical spaces, information and services like communication technology, persons with disabilities will not have equal opportunities to participate in their communities.

She hopes that this training will provide the tools and knowledge to fulfill the vital mission of protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. She reaffirmed that the OHCHR in Cambodia is fully committed to supporting the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and the DAC in their efforts to ensure human rights, especially the right of justice for all.



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