UAE to support disability inclusive development

The UAE has re-affirmed its support to the efforts of a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond, contributing to the achievement of the necessary political commitment to take the necessary measures to improve this category.

By (Wam)

Published: Thu 19 Jun 2014, 11:45 PM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 7:08 AM

This declaration was made in a paper submitted by the country’s Mission to the United Nations during the seventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The paper reviewed the efforts made by the UAE to ensure the care and protection given to this category of citizens, noting that the country’s constitution guarantees respect and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities and their rehabilitation for their own benefit and for the benefit of society.

The state’s mission pointed to Federal Law 29 of 2006 regarding the Rights of Individuals with Special Needs, which promotes the philosophy of inclusive education by ensuring that all students with disabilities in public and private educational institutions in the UAE have access to equal educational opportunities.

“Since the launch of the federal government’s strategy for 2011-2013, the UAE has followed a new approach towards giving greater importance to comprehensive social development which primarily aims to enable persons with disabilities and integrate them into society.”

It pointed out some local initiatives such as the initiative of Shaikha Alyazia bint Saif Al Nahyan, the wife of Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, to train teachers on implementing the programmes to include the disabled; and the Princess Haya Award for Special Education (Phase), which aims to highlight the role of the special needs sector and its responsibility to educate and rehabilitate children with special needs.