The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ahmed Al-Asadi, headed the delegation of the Republic of Iraq participating in the Sixteenth Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Minister delivered Iraq's speech in the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York, in which he said that Iraq ratified the Convention on Persons with Disabilities in 2012, and as a result, Law No. (38) of 2013 was approved, and the Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities and Special Needs was established, which is the official sectoral body concerned with caring for people with disabilities. Disability and strive to secure the requirements of social integration for them, secure a decent life, and find decent job opportunities for them in a manner commensurate with their capabilities and capabilities.
He added that with the continuation of efforts to strengthen efforts towards achieving the goals of sustainable development, Iraq has been keen within international normative frameworks and in accordance with its legal and ethical obligations to spread a culture of equality with others and to take actual measures that enhance the societal participation of people with disabilities in public life and in several areas, in addition to providing services Medical and health care in a way that guarantees their enjoyment of a decent life.
The Minister affirmed Iraq's keenness to provide equal opportunities, integrate people with disabilities and integrate them into society, and guarantee their rights to live independently and in line with international standards, with the aim of reaching the principle of equality with others. In addition to holding training courses for employees of state ministries using (sign language) in order to ensure that people with hearing disabilities have access to available programs and services, which contributes to enhancing participation and relying on self-abilities.
He added that in the field of education, the framework for the policy of inclusive, comprehensive and equal education for people with disabilities has been approved and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and partner departments and organizations, and specialized committees have been formed to develop procedural and implementation plans and a follow-up and evaluation mechanism for the axes of the equal and inclusive framework, including (legislative environment, promotion of education culture, Determination of disability and referral to exams, educational supervision, research and studies).
He continued: We also find it important to indicate the efforts made to enable persons with disabilities to access decent work opportunities through the employment policies and programs in place, considering work as a right guaranteed for all, as 5% of jobs have been allocated to them in ministries and companies, and at least 3% of the total workers in the mixed sector.
Al-Asadi concluded his speech by saying that Iraq confirms guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities as guaranteed by the Iraqi constitution, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the provisions of Commission Law No. (38) of 2013, and seeks to cooperate with institutions, companies and interested parties in the technology sector and employ them optimally in support of their users with disabilities and people with disabilities and special needs.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency