30 Dec
The Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI) organized the 4th Myanmar Festival of Artists with Disabilities at Myanmar Convention Centre in Yangon yesterday.
It was attended by Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) Chairman U Win Mra, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, the Ambassador of Finland to Myanmar Ms Riikka Laatu, Regional Social Affairs Minister U Naing Ngan Linn and U Nay Lin Soe, the Founder and Programme Director of MILI, attended the festival.
The festival was participated by the artists with disabilities from Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines.
Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, in his capacity as the Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD) appraised the festival to show artistic skills of persons with disabilities by overcoming their disadvantages.
He added the government is trying to alter false views on the persons with disabilities, and to promote their rights in education, health, employment, women and children affairs, research, priority in conflicts and justice by forming a national level committee led by the Vice President.
The Union Minister said the government will soon form an independent monitoring group comprising with the members of MNHRC and capable persons from the organizations of PWDs to be able to monitor, advise and access on implementing the rights of PWDs in accordance with suggestion of the United Nation.
He also called for contribution of people in these works and expressed thanks for organizing the festival.
Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Festival Ambassador vocalist Zaw Win Htut and the Finnish Ambassador to Myanmar extended greetings, and MILI’s Director U Nay Lin Soe explained the event.
The MILI, the Singaporean deaf dance crew Redeafination and the BMG Philippine Wheel Chair Para Dance-sport staged their performances, the Chairman of MNHRC presented them gifts.
Products of PWD organizations were also displayed at the festival.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
