QNA
Doha
The Green Tent of the ‘A Flower Each Spring’ program hosted a symposium focused on the imperative of advancing academic, training, and vocational institutions, as well as private sector entities, in the Arab world to empower individuals with disabilities. The symposium aimed to address the barriers hindering the integration of people with disabilities into society and explore strategies for enhancing their inclusion.
Experts and researchers from both within and outside discussed several topics such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Arab countries’ role in the CRPD, the contribution of academic and training institutions for people with disabilities to the needs of the labor market, the role of modern technology in facilitating the integration into the labor market, and the availability of proper infrastructure for people with disabilities.
Moderated by Dr Saif Ali Al Hajri, head of the ‘A Flower Each Spring’ program, participants emphasized the need to challenge stereotypes surrounding individuals with disabilities. They highlighted that instead of viewing individuals with disabilities as recipients of help and sympathy, it is crucial to empower them to overcome obstacles and provide them with equal opportunities.
The participants pointed out the importance of assistive technology programs as valuable tools that greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities, help them live independent lives, and ensure their effective participation in society.
Participants further emphasized the critical role of education, training, and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, particularly graduates. They underscored the need for enhanced educational and vocational support to address the gap between individuals with disabilities and the labor market.
Academic institutions are important in enabling them to meet the needs of the labor market, creating specially designed educational programs, as well as focusing on vocational training and comprehensive practices.
The CRPD holds great importance as it affirms the rights of people with disabilities and strengthens the commitment of countries to protect and empower them. Participants said that the failure of some countries in the Arab world to implement this is due to the lack of budget, lack of confidence in the abilities of people with disabilities, the spread of the idea that this group only needs compassion, the absence of binding national legislation, and the lack of specialized personnel.
The Convention affirms the right of people with disabilities to be recognized as people before the law, guarantees them personal freedom and security, calls for providing means of resorting to judicial systems like everyone else, and ensures that they are not subjected to neglect or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The participants recommended developing policies and programs to ensure the appropriate rehabilitation of people with disabilities, spreading awareness of their rights, encouraging society to respect these rights, providing them with the necessary services such as health care, education, and rehabilitation, providing the necessary protection and support, ensuring their rights and enabling them to participate fully in society, as well as providing proper infrastructure to meet their needs.
The symposium highlighted Qatar’s role in this regard. The country has paid attention to caring for people with disabilities by joining related international agreements, granting them special certificates and cards to facilitate their access to their rights stipulated in the law, and providing appropriate infrastructure which is important to establish equality and ensuring full participation in all social activities and events.
Proper infrastructure helps their access to basic services, encourages work and professional integration, provides educational and awareness means to the community about disability issues and helps implement legislation and policies related to them.
The participants reviewed Qatar’s infrastructure and its accessible design, in addition to the stadiums and football fields, all proving the great care that the country has for people with disabilities.
