MLSD Minister affirms Bahrain to promote and preserve the rights of disabiled with care, protection and rehabilitation
02-12-2020
The Kingdom of Bahrain is participating in commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992, on 3 December each year. This aims to promote the rights of this group in all societal and developmental fields, in compliance with international standards for supporting human rights, establishing peace and security, and implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the World Health Organisation is joining partner organisations in commemorating the day under the slogan “A Day for All”, raising awareness of the concept of disability as part of the human condition. On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pride in People of Determination and their contributions to society. He underlined the Kingdom’s keenness to enhance their rights and gains by launching and implementing pioneering initiatives and projects that serve them, which have made Bahrain the focus of appreciation and praise in regional and international fora. These efforts sit within the comprehensive development led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the great King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, and benefit from the support, assistance and insightful vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister, may God protect and preserve him. The Kingdom was among the first to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities immediately after its issuance, subsequently issuing Law No. 74 of 2006 on the care, rehabilitation and employment of People of Determination, Law No. 22 of 2011 on the Convention, and other legislation supporting their rights. Thus, Bahrain has taken great strides towards enacting legislation aimed at integrating People of Determination into society. In this regard, and to closely monitor and enhance the efforts made to protect the rights of People of Determination, the esteemed Council of Ministers issued Resolution No. (5) of 2020, reconstituting the High Committee for the Care of People with Disabilities, headed by the Minister of Labour and Social Development and including representatives from the governmental, civil and private sectors. The Committee is currently updating the strategy and national plan for the rights of People of Determination for the next five years, alongside intensive monitoring and follow‑up of all parties concerned with its implementation through an advanced, practical and ambitious work plan. The Committee also seeks, through coordination between state agencies and civil society institutions, to develop a national framework for monitoring and follow‑up that meets ambitions, advances the affairs of People of Determination, integrates them into society and harnesses their latent talents. Humaidan added that, through community partnership with state institutions, Bahrain has achieved tangible accomplishments in developing services for People of Determination. In May 2020, the project to issue an improved identity card integrated with a disability ID was launched, and data for 12,942 card holders registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development were merged with the population registry systems of the Information and eGovernment Authority. The Authority has begun issuing new identity cards for citizens with determination, including a disability code on the reverse and storing disability data within the electronic chip. The Ministry has also contacted private entities to allocate free or subsidised services or special discounts for holders of the new card. He noted that the number of licensed centres serving People of Determination has doubled to more than 40 private and civil centres. Twelve of these civil centres, which specialise in rehabilitation, are supported through an academic rehabilitation grant programme amounting to one million and 200 thousand annually, benefiting about 500 male and female students with determination enrolled in these centres, in addition to six government centres managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. In addition, 229 People of Determination were employed in the private sector during 2019‑2020. Thirty‑five of them were trained to drive as part of a driver‑training programme, in cooperation with the General Traffic Department, and 86 requests for specialised equipment were met. In a related context, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, in cooperation with the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” and through the Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC) — launched in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the University of Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic — designed a prototype application for the visually impaired. The application helps users recognise objects around them, facilitating movement from one location to another. Developed by Bahraini students, it is expected to be activated by 2021. The Ministry of Labour and Social Development reaffirms its pride in the contributions of People of Determination to society and its determination to continue protecting and enhancing their rights and gains across all fields.