Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development, the Permanent Committee on Human Rights (PCHR), organized a joint discussion session coinciding with the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities", under the title "Beyond Barriers: Rights, Future and Experiences of People of Determination in the United Arab Emirates and Abroad".
Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development, the Permanent Committee on Human Rights (PCHR), organized a joint discussion session coinciding with the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities", under the title "Beyond Barriers: Rights, Future and Experiences of People of Determination in the United Arab Emirates and Abroad". The event comes as part of a series of discussion sessions and events, which address various topics related to the importance of human rights, and great and important progress achieved by the country in this regard.
Great cooperation
The cooperation between the Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) and Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) comes within the framework of the Ministry's endeavor to enhance its continuous cooperation with various government and private authorities with the aim of supporting and enriching its various strategic objectives, exchanging experiences and achieving fruitful partnerships with these entities foremost the Academy to promote, educate, qualify Emirati diplomats and leaders of government bodies in the best possible way.
This event aimed at contributing to the empowerment of people of determination and introducing the UAE community of their rights by laws and strategic policies launched by the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to enhance their community impact, while reflecting the rich values of the United Arab Emirates based on the consolidation of justice, equality and respect for human rights.
The discussion session also highlighted the importance of the rights of persons with disabilities (people of determination), as they are a key focus on the human rights agenda, and stressed the UAE's commitment to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, like all their peers members of the community without any form of discrimination, and to ensure their access to education, appropriate housing to their needs, in order to provide health care, and work to ensure that people of determination are able to live independently.
Leading Role
Alia Al Mulla, Director of Strategy & Future Department and Representative of the Ministry of Community Development at the Permanent Committee for Human Rights, said: “The UAE today is considered a pioneering and role model to the countries of the world in the field of human rights thus a reflection for continuous hard work towards a sustainable better tomorrow”.
She added that the Ministry of Community Development continues its commitments towards the people of determination and goes beyond to achieve full and effective empowerment of these active community members reassuring that the ministry launches its various strategic policies and programs to be comprehensive and capable of changing the stereotype image of people of determination and building success stories by all means.
Al Mulla pointed out that the people of determination are not only beneficiaries of the ministry’s services but are also key partners in its development. The UAE will exert every possible effort to ensure full equality and respect for the dignity of each individual, regardless of their challenges.
Community Inclusion
A number of participants stressed the importance of the inclusion and empowerment of the people of determination in all fields and events in the UAE. Dr. Mona Al Hammadi, Assistant Professor at Zayed University, mentioned the need to prepare professional specialized staff who can provide services to people of determination. Abdullah bin Dhaher, an Emirati entrepreneur and visually impaired people of determination stressed the importance and need to continue addressing the social gaps facing these categories.
Fatima Al Jassim, an activist in the field of inclusion of persons with disabilities (people of determination), pointed out the importance of promoting their rights to community participation, noting in this regard that the continuous efforts of the UAE government to provide more opportunities, empowering them and enhancing their role and influence.
Large Attendance
Dr. Victor Benda, Founder and President of World Enabled, praised the important and great role of the United Arab Emirates, its continuous role in this field, and uneven progress between the countries of the world stressing at the same time the importance of the rights of persons with disabilities (people of determination), in light of cooperation at the local and international levels.
The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, representatives of the United Nations in the United Arab Emirates, members of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, a number of NGOs and students, in addition to a large number of people of determination.