Vice-Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win Attends and Delivers a Speech at Ceremony to Mark the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Ministry of Defense/ Naypyitaw / December 05, 2023

A Ceremony to Mark the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC-II) in Nay Pyi Taw on 3 December. The Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Committee for the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech as follows:

The UN has adopted the theme “United

· in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities” for the 2023 International Day of PWDs.

· Inclusive education will be set up for students with disabilities to acquire development to the extent of their performance, to pursue an independent life, and to gain access to vocational education and lifelong learning.

· 85 percent of disabled people are unemployed but willing to work. Even though they are capable, most of the employers reject them to offer a job. It is therefore learned that those people have difficulties getting a job.

· For the PWDs, suitable employment, an unobstructed workplace, equality with other people and access to personal income and benefits must be created. And they must improve their self-confidence and quality in order to make them want to work on their own.

· Making public vehicles accessible to the PWDs, and public places and buildings should be made barrier-free. The PWDs should be able to move around and participate in the same way as others.

· In accordance with the theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities this year saying “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities” and upholding the policy of Leaving no one behind in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals of Myanmar, everyone is urged to cooperate for the rights of the PWDs.

After that, the Chairman of the National Committee for the Rights of the PWDs SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Union Ministers General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, and Dr. Soe Win presented honourable awards to the winners in the open article contest marking the International Day of PWDs.

Then, the youths with disabilities from the School for the Deaf (Mandalay) and the School for the Disabled Children (Yangon) performed the Enaung Dance, and U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe dance

(traditional dance) respectively.

Later, the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win took a commemorative photo together with attendees, and viewed round books, handiworks and documentary photos related to the PWDs displayed at the ceremony. As a separate program, the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General presented cash reward to the disabled youths who performed dances.