The law on The Protection and The Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Takeo, Cambodia-The law on The Protection and The Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed and sealed by the king of Cambodia in July 2009. However, not many people are aware of its content.

We believe that in order to efficiently teach people to work or how this new law works, one needs to get close to where they are. Following this concept, CDMD cooperated in a one-day workshop with the Provincial Department of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (PoSVY) in Takeo province on December 20th 2010.

“It is the first time that the workshop on dissemination and enforcement of law on the protection and the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities is introduced in the province,” said Mr. Sim Seoun, adviser to the Minister of Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).  

Mr. Nhip Thy, executive director of CDMD, said that the workshop aimed to promote and enforce the law on the protection and the promotion of the rights of the persons with disabilities with the stakeholders in the whole province.

Participants from PoSVY, DoSVY, Commune Council members, Community Development Committees, Community Volunteers, Self Help Groups, and including persons with disabilities totaling 100 joined the workshop.

Mr. Svay Soun, who is 58 a PwD, listened carefully to every detail of the presentation.

He said that before joining this workshop, he did not know much about the law.

“I understand more about this law and its content. For example the administrative issues of the disabled, the donation boxes for the disabled and many other interesting things,” he said.

Smiling, Soun said: “I will share what I’ve learnt today with my community. And I believe they will find it as useful as I do.” 

The law, which contains 14 chapters and 65 articles, is written in Khmer and English. It has five major premises: right to live, right to education, right to get vocational training/skills, right to movement, and right to election.

CDMD will cooperate with the representative from other provinces to organize such event if it is needed.