Aide et Action Cambodia and other local and international organizations in the close collaboration with the ministry of Social Affairs organized a national event to celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on the 10th of December in Phnom Penh.
More than 2000 persons, including the Cambodian Prime Minister, ministers and local authorities attended this special event in order to celebrate the event themed, “Removing barriers to create the inclusive and accessible society for all”.
During the speech, the Prime Minister suggested to all the development partners to strengthen the collaboration with the government in order to promote the right and the protection of the person with disabilities. He also urged all people living in Cambodia, especially the employers, to eliminate the discrimination towards these people. “Persons with disabilities are more capable now to compete in the labor market. They are able to gain access to income to ensure a sustainable livelihood and live with independence and dignity through vocational training program”, said the Prime Minister. He also insisted the public and private institutions to follow up on the implementation of the royal decree stating that at least 2% of the work force with disabilities in the public sectors and 1% in the private sector.
After the speech, the participants were invited to visit the achievements of the organizations. Interested by the souvenirs and the T-shirt printing made by the youth with intellectual disability of the project “Education for children with moderate-severe disabilities”, the Prime Minister appreciated with the hard works of Aide et Action and its partners in helping the youth with intellectual disabilities to become independent in the society. Then he recommend the minister of Labor and Vocational training and other ministries related to collaborate closer with Aide et Action in order to find adequate way to improve the professional and social reintegration for them.
“Of course, we develop more and more the vocational training for the youth with intellectual disabilities and their families. We hope that the close collaboration with the ministry of Labor and Vocational training will enable us to provide our beneficiaries with better access to professional life”, told Mr. HUN Touch, director of Rabbit School, Aide et Action’s main partner for this project.