Activist hails UAE laws for physically challenged

“The UAE has brought in laws in harmony with the provisions of the international conventions guaranteeing physically challenged people the right to education, healthcare, work, freedom, equality, justice, human dignity, respect and protection from abuse and violence,” said Dr Muhand Al Aza, member of the Board of Trustees of the Jordanian National Centre for Human Rights.

He made these remarks during a roundtable discussion organised by the Institute for Judicial Training in coordination with the Jurists Association in Sharjah on Tuesday.

The event focused on the International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities.

The lecturer compared the UN conventions and principles with the provisions in the Islamic Shariah concerning this category of people.

He outlined the wide range of areas — including respect for dignity, individual freedom and independence, freedom of choice, integration of persons with disabilities into the mainstream, equal opportunities and non-discrimination, equality between men and women, stereotyped social and behavioural attitudes and financial obstacles — covered in the Shariah.

He also spoke about the federal law No. 29 of 2006 that deals with the rights of people with special needs and delivery of all services to them.