PHNOM PENH: Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Em Chan Makara, reminded his colleagues to pay special attention to policies that help raise persons with disabilities out of poverty.

In a meeting on September 29, the secretary of state gathered the ministry’s disability working group and specialized departments to highlight the need for more job opportunities for persons with disabilities, especially as civil servants and employees at private and public institutions. He noted that persons with disabilities are still falling through the cracks and can be seen singing for money at traffic lights, so the group must do more to address the issues of all Cambodia’s disabled.

During the meeting, he designated specific roles to officials to strengthen the protection of persons with disabilities in Cambodia. He then instructed them to set up their own working group of professionals to monitor the work of the disability sector and respond to relevant comments made on social media by Supreme Advisor to the King, former Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Sec. Em Chan Makara also requested the cooperation of the General Secretariat of the Disability Action Council in preparing the 90-day plan for the Department of Disability Welfare and Disability Rights. He reminded the working group to pay attention to the transparency and efficiency of funds provided to assist impoverished persons with disabilities.

He noted that Cambodia still does not have enough wheelchairs and equipment to provide to all who need them in the country and asked for expertise on solving the issue.