Vice President U Henry Van Thio attends Disability Inclusive Development Forum

Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Chairman of the National Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD), delivered an opening speech at the Disability Inclusive Development Forum, held at the Kempinski Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Also present at the forum were Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, U Thein Swe, Dr. Myint Htwe, U Han Zaw and Dr. Win Myat Aye, Deputy Ministers, Vice-chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, state and region ministers for social welfare, Hluttaw representatives, members of the NCRPD, British Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Daniel Patrick Brendon Chugg, Permanent Secretaries, departmental heads, officials from the Myanmar Federation on Persons with Disabilities, Head of the Department for International Development (DFID) Dr. Gail Marzetti, officials from NGOs and INGOs and invited guests.

Speaking at the forum, the Vice President said it was found that the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) cannot enjoy human rights like the majority of the people and there is a significant gap in the soci-economic sectors, according to the research conducted by Myanmar and other countries, and we can reach the development goal only if we can reduce the poverty gaps from which the PwDs are suffering.

In recognition of the rights of the PwDs, Myanmar became a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the PwDs on 7 December 2011 and enacted the Disability Rights Law in 2015, and the PwDs Law, 2017, besides adopting the Myanmar National Strategy for the Development of PwDs 2016-2025). National Committee meetings were held for the first time in 2017, and another meeting in 2018, respectively. Work committee meetings for raising funds for the PwDs were held in 2018 and policies related to development works for them were adopted. The Government has sped up rehabilitation and development works for the PwDs. According to the 100-day plan of the government, arrangements have been made for the children, women to make braille publications, a project to develop blind massage training for people with visual impairment, a project to enable people with auditory impairment easy access to news and information, and a project to provide vocational training to people with physical disabilities. As a result, we could publish the law and Convention on the Rights of PwDs and the Association of Myanmar Disabled Women's Affairs, using sign language. With the aim of producing translators using sign languages, we are conducting the sign language classes, and have opened an Information, Communication and Technology Training Centre for PwDs.

Various strategic goals and projects are being implemented to provide support, rehabilitation and personal development to a wide range of people with disabilities in Myanmar, said the Vice President. These include a project to develop blind massage training for people with visual impairment, a project to enable people with auditory impairment easy access to news and information, a project to provide vocational training to the PwDs to provide personal development. Moreover we are compiling the employers' manual to create more job opportunities for PwDs.

The Union Government has been allotting monetary aid from its respective fiscal year budgets to 12855 PwDs in 2017-2018, and 12129 PwPs in 2018-2019. Also Mine Risk Education had been conducted starting from 2017-2018 fiscal years, and the government has allotted to provide monentary aid to totaling 400 people, includ ing 112 people in Kachin State, 16 people in Kayah State, 39 people in Kayin State, 85 people in Shan State, 62 people in Bago Region and 86 people in Thanithayi Region.

The Disability Inclusive Development Forum has been held to introduce the 7-point agreements, among the governmental offices, organizations, private sector people and CSOs. As for the experts from various fields, we are going to discuss regarding employment opportunities, all-inclusive education, information technology for PwDs and trying to implement 2030 development goals for them. This forum aims to create an all-inclusive community for PwDs.

Then British Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Daniel Patrick Brendon Chugg gave a few remarks. Then Vice President U Henry Van Thio took a photograph with the forum attendees and the first part of the forum concluded after this. After that, Vice President U Henry Van Thio and party went round to look at the records and photo displays of the displaced PwDs, due to the conflicts in the Kachin State.
The second part of the forum continued later. Director General of the Department of Rehabilitation U Win Naing Tun, Director General of the Social Welfare Department Dr. San San Aye, Social Policy and Poverty Research Group (SPPRG) Technical Advisor Dr. Aung Naing and chair of the Association of Myanmar Disabled Women's Affairs Daw Nge Nge Aye Maung discussed relating to the schemes. Then Secretary of the Myanmar Federation of PwDs U Myat Thu Win, Mrs. Vicky Bowman, Daw Wah Wah Kywe, Daw Khin Myo Su and Daw Myat Tha Htwe led the discussions. Chair of the Association of Myanmar Disabled Women's Affairs Daw Nge Nge Aye Maung led the discussion entitled "All-inclusive Education Sector", and Dr. May San Yee, U Htar Oak, Daw Aye Thinzar Maung and Daw Su Su Mar joined the discussion. Regarding the Natural Disaster and Emergencies sector, Deputy Director of Ministry for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Myo Set Aung led the discussion, and U Nay Tun, Dr. Ko Ko Oo, U Kyaw Win Htut and Daw Phyu Lei Lei Tun took part in the discussion. Regarding Information Technology Sector, Social Policy and Poverty Research Group Technical Advisor Dr. Aung Naing led the discussion, and Chair of the Association of Myanmar Disabled Women's Affairs Daw Nge Nge Aye Maung and Social Policy and Poverty Research Group Technical Advisor Dr. Aung Naing made the reviews.

Then, Secretary of the Myanmar Federation of PWDs U Myat Thu Win expressed words of thanks and concluded the second part of the forum. At the Disability Inclusive Development Forum, all the participants took part in the discussions regarding employment opportunities, education, information technology, disaster management, mine risk education sectors, including extensive policies and research.

MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar