• Society

Hun Manet Calls for More Investment in Helping People with Disability

• By Nhor Sokhoeurn
• December 3, 2023 4:55 PM

PHNOM PENH — Prime Minister Hun Manet has launched a new theme, which is “Innovative solutions for a society that is comfortable, objective and equitable,” to more efficiently support people with disability.

The prime minister issued this in a message on Dec. 3 to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, stating that investment and resources must be increased to achieve this, and urging relevant ministries to promote measures against discrimination.

This includes investing more in people with disability, including in education, so they can ensure their livelihood with freedom and without discrimination, his message read.

All relevant ministries and the private sector are encouraged to cooperate with the Disability Action Council, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and the Disability Foundation to help implement the national strategy on capacity building and human resource development, prioritizing technical training and the creativity of people with disability, Hun Manet said.

All stakeholders must improve access or take measures to make public and private sites accessible to people with disability, encourage people with disability to work in any position without discrimination, and enable people with disability to apply for work as do people without disability, he wrote.

The Ministry of Information must instruct all national and private television outlets to include sign language and subtitles on programs for deaf people, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation must work with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation to issue driving licenses to people with disability based on their capacity and the technical conditions of their vehicles.

According to the prime minister, there are 7,535 people with disabilities working in the private and government sectors across the country. Among them, 3,631 women and 128 men work in the private sector, while 2,907 men and 869 women work for the government.

Hun Manet also mentioned that the government has set up facilities for people with disabilities such as physical structures, buses, and means of communication.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on Dec. 3 every year. This annual observance was introduced in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the United Nations, the observance of the day “aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Meng Seavmey contributed to the story.