International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 was commemorated at 10 am yesterday at Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw, and National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Chairman State Administration Council Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.
Also present on the occasion were the State Administration Council members, Union ministers, the commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, the deputy ministers, the permanent secretaries, the directors-general, personnel from NGOs and INGOs, responsible personnel from the Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities, people living with disabilities, invitees and officials concerned.
The Vice-Senior General said inter alia that awareness of the affairs of the disabled is to be promoted, that December 3 has been designated as an international day by the United Nations and this day is celebrated worldwide every year to be able to provide assistance for the promotion of dignity, human rights and wellbeing of the disabled, that Myanmar, on its part, has been celebrating this day since 1994, that the motto of this year is, “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world” and that technical assistance is to be sought to overcome the challenges.
The Vice-Senior General went on to say that the technology and innovation can promote accessibility and usability, that Myanmar ratified the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 7 December 2011, that the Incheon Strategy for Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (2013-2033) and the ASEAN Enabling Master Plan (2025) are being implemented, that under the Incheon Strategy, Myanmar has been designating the level of disability in Pobbathiri in Nay Pyi Taw, Hlinethaya in Yangon Region, Hpa-an in Kayin State and Hopong Township, Pa-O Self-Administered Zone in Shan State (South), that this activity will be continued to carry out in all townships across the country and that under the ASEAN Enabling Master Plan (2025), the Five-Year Strategic Project for Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2022-2027).
Vice-Senior General Soe Win also pointed out that the barrier-free environment and accessibility are needed to be considered in such doing, that the government has issued K3 billion to raise a revolving fund for the disabled, that the people living with disabilities are not to be excluded in political, economic, social, education, health and public affairs sectors, that they should be better integrated into the society and that the disabled do not need to be discouraged, facing bravely all the challenges, living a healthy life so that they can actively participate in the nation-building tasks.
Afterwards, the National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Vice-Chair Union Minister Dr Thet Thet Khine explained the activities carried out in respect to the effectuation of the rights of the disabled. Next, the video message sent by the United Nations Secretary-General was played followed by a video documentary commemorating International Day of People with Disabilities. Then, the Deputy PM Vice-Senior General presented prizes to winners of the article competition. Afterwards, SAC Members General Mya Tun Oo and Admiral Tin Aung San presented prizes to those who have won medals for enabling unhindered travel for the disabled. They then presented prizes to the Myanmar Sports Federation of Persons with Disabilities for winning medals and for being ranked sixth in the 11th ASEAN Sports Event for the Disabled in 2022.
Next, Union Minister Dr Thet Thet Khine presented prizes to those who have created job opportunities for the disabled. Afterwards, Chairman of the National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities State Administration Council Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win posed for a documentary group photo with those attending the ceremony. Next, the Vice-Senior General observed the books and documentary photos displayed, it is learnt.—MNA
