General News

Call for Better Opportunities for the Disabled

Gadong, Brunei-Muara: "Persons with disabilities around the globe constitute a significant group that can contribute to development and to the society, and yet their potential has not always been realised because of existing barriers," said Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman, Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, who was the guest of honour, during the closing ceremony of the 3rd Asean Disability Forum yesterday at Rizqun International Hotel.

She said that usually persons with disabilities were not like likely to be employed full-time or at all and that they were economically inactive.

She added that the disabled were usually content with low-paying jobs with poor career prospects and minimum benefits.

"These patterns reflect untapped human resources that, if adequate measures were taken, could contribute to sustainable development efforts at the local, national and regional levels. These circumstances pose substantial challenges to policy-makers, programme implementers, service providers and obviously, to the disabled themselves.

"And it is also at this juncture that the work and collaboration of Disabled People's Organisation (DPOs) plays a role in reinforcing the work of the government and other major stakeholders in mainstreaming disability perspective in every facet of national and regional development," she added.

During the forum themed of "Reduce Poverty and Enhance Employment Prospects", several recommendations were presented for the benefit of the disabled by Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman, Co-Chairman of this year's edition of the forum.

The recommendations spawned from the sharing of ideas and experiences on how Asean countries could empower the disabled.

The closing ceremony saw a scroll presentation to Myanmar, the host nation for next year's forum.

Additional Information

Country: Brunei Darussalam
Website: http://www.brudirect.com/national/national/national-local/12653-call-for-better-opportunities-for-the-disabled
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Source: www.brudirect.com/
When: 26/12/2013

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