12 June
Vice President U Henry Van Thio in his capacity as the chairman of the National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD) attended and addressed the fourth NCRPD meeting 1/2019 held at the assembly hall of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
At the meeting the Vice President said all over the world the rights of the persons with disabilities were being raised in order for them to have equal right obtained by the non-disabled citizens. However, based on findings of researches conducted internationally and in Myanmar, disabled persons were still facing various inequalities, especially in opportunities for education and employment and are more likely to be burdened by poverty.
In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) that Myanmar had ratified, the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015) and Rules on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2017) were enacted. To effectively implement the rights in the law and rule, a National Committee was formed in 2017 and work committees were formed at Nay Pyi Taw Council and State/Region levels and designated work duties and responsibilities.
In addition to this, to support the National Committee and work committees, education sub-committee, health sub-committee, monitoring and assessment sub-committee, disabled women and children affairs sub-committee, information and technology sub-committee, natural disaster and other emergency sub-committee were also formed.
The government was mainly arranging for long term sustainable development of disabled persons. In doing this, registering and categorizing disabilities is playing an important role. Categorizing, registering and issuing identifications to disabled persons will support positive views and understanding on social development, social integration and economic development in both urban and rural areas.
The process of identifying persons with disabilities for a pilot project in Yangon and Bago regions and Kayin State will be split into three stages. In the first stage, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and UNICEF (Myanmar) will jointly draft categories for the classification of disabled persons, which will have to be approved. In the second and third stage, the Ministry of Health and Sports will designate the categories. After the three stages are completed, the pilot project will be implemented.
It was a proud and happy occasion to note that Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities (MFPD) had formed nine sub-offices for Persons with Disabilities in Nay Pyi Taw Council, Yangon Region, Magway Region, Ayeyawady Region, Bago Region, Sagaing Region, Kachin State, Chin State and Mon State. Another important work for the persons with disabilities is during the natural disaster and emergency situation. By not keeping them aside and making them participate in natural disaster and emergency situation, their requirements will also be truly fulfilled. To understand the disability wise specific requirements and to conduct sustainable development works, an accurate data and information on disability is required.
According to some news and information, from 2017 to 2018 there were 25 cases of sexual violence against persons with disabilities. As per the aims of the law cooperation between Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Ministry of Home Affairs and legal organizations is required. Creating an obstacle free society for persons with disabilities is achieving sustainable development for persons with disabilities said the Vice President.
Next, the NCRPD Vice Chairman 1 Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye explained briefly about the work processes of the committee.
This was followed by a message of greeting from NCRPD interim Vice Chairman 2 MFPD interim chairman U Thein Lwin.
Afterwards Committee Secretary Deputy Minister U Soe Aung explained about status of works completed on decisions made at the third NCRPD meeting. Union Minister U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Ministers, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Vice Chairman, State/Region ministers for social affairs, officials, representatives of persons with disabilities, representatives from non-government social organizations, volunteers then explained and discussed about works conducted for persons with disabilities.
Later the NCRPD joint secretary and MFPD general secretary U Myat Thu Win delivered a speech of appreciation.
In his concluding speech the Vice President spoke of thinking about persons with disabilities when establishing future basic infrastructures, discussions and suggestions made in the day’s meeting were to be worked out cooperatively departmental wise and all to cooperate in future work processes.
After the meeting the Vice President took commemorative group photo with meeting attendees. The meeting was attended by NCRPD Vice Chairman 1 Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye, Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin, Deputy Ministers, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission Vice Chairman, State/Region ministers for social affairs, Permanent Secretaries, directors general, officials, officials from MFPD, organizations for persons with disabilities and related organizations. — MNA
(Translated by Zaw Min)
