Sana'a - Saba:
The rights of persons with disabilities remain one of the most important issues of social justice, reflecting the progress of any society. When public facilities are open to them and they are provided with equal opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare, a new chapter of hope and humanity will be written for them in the nation's pages.
In line with the directives of the Revolutionary Leadership and the Supreme Political Council, the Government of Change and Construction responded to the humanitarian call of persons with disabilities by announcing a comprehensive implementation mechanism to remove barriers and facilitate access for persons with disabilities to a dignified life. These steps will serve as a bridge toward a more inclusive and just society, leaving no one behind.
In this regard, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, its various sectors, and the Executive Administration of the Fund for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled have launched a comprehensive implementation mechanism to improve access for persons with disabilities to basic facilities and services in various districts of the Capital Sana'a, as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities.
This came during an expanded meeting held last weekend, which included local authority leaders and executive offices in the Sana'a, to discuss field implementation measures aimed at activating the mechanism and preparing the urban and service environment to be inclusive and suitable for the needs of persons with disabilities, according to clear technical and legal standards.
A report issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the Disabled Rehabilitation Fund considered the mechanism a response to data monitored by the monitoring and follow-up team during the year 1446 AH, which revealed significant challenges in the area of accessibility and inclusion.
According to the report, the percentage of fully equipped health facilities does not exceed 15 percent, and the percentage of government buildings that meet accessibility standards is 12 percent, while the percentage of people with disabilities receiving healthcare does not exceed 35 percent.
It indicated that the net enrollment rate for people with disabilities in basic education is only 5 percent, compared to 3 percent in vocational education. Furthermore, the percentage of workers with disabilities does not exceed 2 percent of the total workforce, prompting the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Fund to move quickly to activate government efforts in this regard.
The mechanism is based on tight coordination between the local authority leadership and executive offices. The Transport and Public Works Office plays a pivotal technical role in implementing engineering standards for accessibility. This includes requiring public and private facilities to make the required modifications, linking the granting and renewal of annual licenses to compliance with these standards, and conducting field visits for evaluation.
The mechanism also includes a role for security agencies in detecting violations and referring them to judicial authorities. The Traffic Department is required to allocate parking spaces for people with disabilities in public places, post legal signage, and monitor their implementation. Government and private entities are also required to renovate buildings internally, widen entrances, and install appropriate elevators or ramps.
The mechanism emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation, through the formation of local committees comprising representatives of relevant authorities and organizations and associations for people with disabilities. These committees conduct field visits, receive complaints, and prepare quarterly reports, which are submitted to the central monitoring team.
The mechanism also includes incentive tools, including honoring compliant entities and publishing public reports to encourage competition. Awareness campaigns are also conducted through the media, digital platforms, and mosques.
As part of the mechanism, the Ministry of Social Affairs approved ongoing coordination with the Capital Sana'a to ensure unified implementation procedures across directorates, the formation of joint inspection teams, and linking the performance evaluation of directorate directors to implementation results. It also allocated annual budgets to support minor modifications to government facilities, and warned and administratively held accountable directorates that failed to implement the mechanism.
Samir Baja'alah, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled, considered the implementation of the mechanism a practical step towards achieving the goals of the national strategy. It also reflects the state's commitment to guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities.
He explained that empowering and integrating persons with disabilities into society is a priority for the revolutionary leadership, the Supreme Political Council, and the government. He emphasized that caring for this segment of society is a deeply rooted principle of Islam and the Quran.
Minister Baja'alah noted the interaction of the local authority leadership and executive offices with the mechanism, which comes within a coordinated and integrated framework to provide services and care to all segments of society.
The mechanism represents an important step toward promoting social justice and ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, by creating a service environment that takes into account their needs and provides them with equal opportunities in life. True development cannot be achieved without the involvement of all segments of society, most notably persons with disabilities, who have long awaited executive policies that listen to their suffering and translate their needs into a tangible reality.
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