Dili, December 3, 2024 (Média Democracia) – Commemorating the World Day for People with Disabilities in Timor-Leste in 2024 with the world theme, “Strengthening the Leadership of People with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future” and with the national theme, “Empowering People with Disabilities through the Implementation of the National Action Plan for People with Disabilities for the period 2021-2030 in order to achieve Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Timor-Leste”. This activity was held at the Ministry of Youth, Arts and Culture.
According to the representative of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI) Executive Director of the National Social Security Institute, Maria Antonia Siqueira Gusmao, December 3, 2024 is an important day for all people with disabilities in the world including in Timor-Leste. In 1992, the United Nations Organization designated December 3 as an important day to celebrate the basic rights of people with disabilities.
“The main objective of this day’s celebration is to promote and increase public knowledge about the fundamental rights of people with disabilities, also adding the obstacles faced in the barriers before moving forward. Therefore, to promote the participation of people with disabilities in all activities such as in the family, community and society it is necessary to reduce and eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, therefore it must be mobilized to support to glorify the welfare rights of people with disabilities. In 2024, the government through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion is leading and committed to celebrating this special day in the national municipalities, the Atauro zone including RAEOA.” Said the MSSI representative
She informed that in 2012 the government had ratified a national policy for the advancement and protection of the rights of people with disabilities.
“In 2014 to 2018, the implementation of the National Action Plan for people with disabilities was an initial step, although it had not shown positive results, but the government continued to learn to improve it at another time. In 2019, MSSI formed a secretary to lead the process and write the National Action Plan for people with disabilities for the period 2021 to 2030. In writing this action plan until completion, MSSI involved representatives of people with disabilities including women with disabilities in Timor-Leste. So that the process of developing the National Action Plan for people with disabilities for the period 2021 to 2030 becomes a good practice for all development sectors. This development process is very participatory and inclusive because it involves representatives from all types of disabilities. Starting in 2021, the implementation of this action plan until now, the achievements of several ministries have been running.” She said.
She added that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education support students with disabilities to access education so that they have the same opportunities as others. The Ministry of Health also has its own program called Health in the Family which has a special book for people with disabilities to access health facilities. MSSI itself from the national rehabilitation center and national cooperation with INSS for the payment of social pensions for grandparents including people with disabilities who do not have the physical and mental capacity to work, also the conditional mother scholarship provides special attention to students with disabilities by providing humanitarian assistance and ponctual support to them.
On the other hand, according to the Executive Director of the Association of Disabled People of Timor-Leste (ADTL), Cesário da Silva said that this activity was to celebrate World Disability Day in Timor-Leste.
“This activity is to celebrate the world day for people with disabilities in Timor-Leste, starting from the celebration of the day of people with disabilities on December 3, 2008, today is a very important day to work together to strengthen people with disabilities with a special theme, ‘Strengthening the Leadership of People with Disabilities for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future’ with this theme to awaken and further empower persons with disabilities. This celebration is led maximally by the government through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion and collaborates with the Dili Municipal Authority and also Organizations that specifically work for people with disabilities in Timor-Leste, to organize this activity to continue to appreciate people with disabilities in Timor-Leste.” Said the Executive Director
He informed that in this activity, the participants were people with disabilities with a total number of more than 3 million people, but there was a mobilization of 5 thousand people who participated in this celebration.
“In this activity we received financial support from the government, especially MSSI with a total of 10 million and 4 million from Australia in Timor-Leste, 14 million for the implementation of the two-day activity. The main effort is to continue to fight for Disability Inclusion, meaning, Do not leave anyone behind, especially in the national development process also involve people with disabilities to ensure that the voice of people with disabilities in the development process can run and Timor-Leste can achieve sustainable and inclusive general elections, prosperous for all citizens including people with disabilities. ” He continued.
He added that the main message for people with disabilities throughout the region is that we are still in the process of development, the situation and conditions are not yet in accordance with the situation and conditions of people with disabilities, therefore we must face these obstacles by trying hard, must be brave, strong to continue to fight for social inclusion starting from family and society. Need to pay attention to and respect people with disabilities.
Reported by : Tomas
Picture by : Tomas