PHNOM PENH: Representing Minister of Social Affairs, Chea Somethy, Secretary of State and Secretary-General of the Disability Action Council, Em Chan Makara, organized a charity football event to raise funds to help the deaf in Cambodia and to show the friendship and solidarity of Cambodians living under the umbrella of peace.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the football match at the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Sports Center on October 7, deaf youth football representative Chhat Leng Socheat said that having a football match between players with disabilities shows solidarity and encourages persons with disabilities (PWD) in Cambodia.

At the same time, the team representative Cham Chandara said that helping the disabled is an expression of no one left behind and shows team spirit as well.

Secretary-General of the Disability Action Council, Em Chan Makara, said that the match was meaningful in providing an opportunity for ministry officials, civil society organizations, sports teams, philanthropists and persons with disabilities to get together in a friendly atmosphere. He said that the event was in accordance with the National Strategic Plan on Disability 2019-2023 which ensures the participation of social activities including culture, art, religion, sports, recreation and other activities.

He said the match is a reflection of the friendship and solidarity of the Cambodian people living under the umbrella of peace and development in all areas and that it shows Cambodia honors the right to freedom of participation without discrimination to persons with disabilities by promoting their capabilities in accordance with national and international law. He added that so far, the Royal Government policies have reached 19,874 people with disabilities in the community across Cambodia.

"All this love and care means that people with disabilities are not excluded from Cambodian society," he said.