MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is making diligent efforts to provide support and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities through enacting laws and legislation that ensure their active participation and inclusion in society. Oman has also joined numerous international conventions concerning this segment of the population, aiming to achieve a dignified lifestyle for persons with disabilities.
This segment has been accorded a Royal interest, as His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, while presiding over a meeting of the Council of Ministers last September, directed the establishment of a new sector at the level of an Undersecretary within the structure of the Ministry of Social Development. This sector will be responsible for supervising this field, addressing its challenges, and working to ensure their empowerment and more effective inclusion to enhance their role in building society.
In this context, Gopal Mitra, Global Lead on Disability and Development at the Unicef, described His Majesty’s directives to establish a new sector at the Undersecretary level to oversee the affairs of persons with disabilities as a highly positive step that reflects Oman's commitment and its wise leadership to this segment of society. He affirmed that this step comes in the context of recognising and valuing persons with disabilities, which will contribute to raising the level of attention to their issues, better highlighting their needs and challenges, and coordinating related procedures more swiftly across relevant government entities.
He also valued the social protection system adopted by Oman, which includes a set of benefits, such as the child benefit and the disability benefit for those whose conditions require care and support. He pointed out that this step is part of commendable efforts made by the government to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
He said: "I am very impressed with what Oman has done in the field of supporting persons with disabilities. The steps taken in the past few years deserve praise and acclaim. Tangible progress has been made, reflecting political will and a commitment to supporting this segment through concrete actions and investments. The adoption of the disability benefit confirms this commitment." He highlighted the efforts of civil society institutions and private centres concerned with persons with disabilities in Oman, appreciating their prominent role in providing care and services to this community segment. Among the most notable is the "Children First Association", which is currently organising the second edition of the Oman Childhood Conference and Exhibition, aiming to rehabilitate and empower children with disabilities through modern technologies and means of integrating them into society.
Regarding prospects for cooperation between Oman and the Unicef, he explained that the two sides have been working diligently for decades to develop programmes related to childhood, indicating that the current focus revolves around ways to boost inclusion of children with disabilities into society. - ONA
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