PHNOM PENH: Cheers rang out at the Koh Pich Theater in Phnom Penh on Monday morning, as Cambodia celebrated its 25th annual National Day of Persons with Disabilities under the theme “Innovative Solutions for a Comfortable and Equitable Society.”

Nearly 3,000 persons with disabilities attended the special event with joy that could be seen on their faces. Hay Kimkea, 57, has cerebral palsy and makes his living selling souvenirs. He was happy to celebrate the day and said that everyone has their own unique characteristics, even people with disabilities. "People with disabilities are not totally disabled,” he said. “They have their talents.”

51-year-old Hong Lay says that the current situation in Cambodia is much better for those like himself who need a wheelchair to get around. Although he is paralyzed in both legs, he is able to use his own means of transportation just as nondisabled people do. "The past and the present are very different, life is much more prosperous these days,” he said. “This prosperous life is because we have peace so we can do anything, so long as we don’t do illegal things."

Despite using a wheelchair after she lost a leg to amputation, Ms. Socheata, 43 years old, owns a farm and a resort and encourages those with disabilities not to be discouraged, but to be strong and to seize their opportunities. "I myself am a person with a disability, I would like to encourage all of you, don’t lose hope. Dream big,” she said. “Do not see your disability as a weakness and give up opportunities. Opportunities are everywhere for you. Like me, I seized the opportunity with the experience gained from my past, and it taught me more."

Khmer musicians also performed at the event, including rapper Pu Klang, who said that he has wanted to perform at the event for a long time to encourage people with disabilities. As a musician, he was inspired by a blind musician who he saw performing at Wat Botum more than 20 years ago.

"I do not know what happened to him, I only saw people playing music around Wat Botum,” he said. “I went to see him, he dressed nicely and he laughed and joked like us, but when I realized that he was blind, I suddenly had tears in my eyes! I thought that, even if he can’t see, he still wants to be beautiful, but some of us look down on them, mocking them. How sad they [PWD] must be. We are not blind, but when people mock us it makes us sad, so PWD can’t walk, cannot speak, then how difficult is that?”

He said that there should be no discrimination or insults used against persons with disabilities. "Think first. Do not look down on people with disabilities, do not be discouraged, because emotional well-being is very important! Encourage each other, we are the same people,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion was Minister of Social Affairs and Chairman of the Disability Action Council, Chea Somethy, who said that the situation of persons with disabilities in Cambodia has improved because of Cambodia’s peaceful state. "Because Cambodia has achieved complete peace, that promotes the nation's continuous development that has provided benefits for persons with disabilities, and support from all stakeholders under the tireless efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia,” he said.

According to a 2021 Socio-Economic Survey, Cambodia counted 872,527 persons with disabilities, equivalent to 5.3% of the total population at that time. The main causes of disability in Cambodia are malnutrition, genetics, traffic accidents, occupational accidents, landmines and explosive remnants of war, violence, disasters, and old age. The Minister said that there are currently more than 7,500 people with disabilities working in public and private institutions throughout Cambodia.