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Dec 11 2010

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National Forum on Disability kicks off

The Forum, held in cooeprration with the Centrail Council for the Disabled Affairs and UN organizations operating in Syria, aims it devising a national map of organizations that tackle disability issues and their services and boslter cooperation among them to improve the situation of disabled individuals.

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Diyala Haj Aref said that the Council's work allows for group effort and partnership among government and private bodies regarding the issue of disability, stressing that no results can be achieved without a society that believes in what these bodies are working to achieve.

She called for working to empower the disabled and creating social awareness regarding their importance and potential, pointing out to the abilities they revealed during the Special Olympics games that were hosted by Syria.

For his part, Resident Representative of the UNDP in Syria Ismael Weld al-Sheikh Ahmad lauded Syria's efforts to integrated disabled individuals into society, mainly issuing the law for disabled care no. 34 for 2004, which stipulated for rehabilitating the disabled and providing job opportunities for them.

He underlined the importance of the Special Olympics held in Syria under the auspices and support of Mrs. Asma al-Assad in raising social awareness regarding disability issues.

Weld al-Sheikh Ahmad noted that UN organizations operating in Syria gave priority to programs relayed to the participation of the disabled, stressing the importance of the participation of the private sector and civil associations in these programs.

In turn, Executive Director of AAMAL Rami Khalil said the Forum aims at forming a unified front and devising a national map for improving the situation of the disabled and achieve the goal of allowing the disabled to live a full life as active parts of society.

Participants in the Forum affirmed the importance of measuring the degree of disability to specify needs and distribute resources accordingly, calling for providing a suitable environment to allow the disabled to participate fully and actively in society.

They indicated to the need for changing social viewpoint towards disability to promote respecting differences and accepting disabled individuals and achieve equality.

They also said that Syria's National Plan for Disability, which is the first integrated national plan of its kind in the region, marks a turning point in bolstering social protection policies in Syria, noting that Syria joined several international agreements on human rights in general including the International Agreement for the Disabled in 2009.

Later, several sessions were held to discuss issues related to disability such as services, prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, social initiatives, and educational integration.

Discussions during the sessions indicated to the importance of providing suitable healthcare to the disabled, carrying out preventative programs, group work, volunteer work, planning, establishing partnerships with governmental and private organizations, social marketing, and more.

Representatives of civil, popular, governmental bodies and international organizations are participating in the two-day forum, in addition to several experts.

Photo, art and handicrafts exhibitions will be held on the sideline of the forum, showcasing the works of disabled individuals. Other accompanying activities include theatrical performance, awareness shows, and documentaries.

AAMAL is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2002 through an initiative by Mrs. Asma al-Assad. It aims at improving the conditions of peoples with disabilities in Syria through raising awareness, improving legislations and laws, providing treatment and training and integrating the disabled into society.

© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010