The Minister of Social Development heads the Bahrain delegation to the Disabled Rights Committee in Geneva

08-03-2024

H.E. Mr. Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al-Asfour, Minister of Social Development and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the session dedicated to discussing the comprehensive national report (first and second) on the rights of persons with disabilities, during the 30th session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). ) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. In his speech, the Minister affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness and commitment to safeguarding the rights of disabled, in implementation of the International Convention their Rights, in addition to providing them with comprehensive protection, through the implementation of many policies aimed at promoting and supporting their rights in all societal and development fields. During the discussion, the Minister reviewed the initiatives and achievements to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities in the Kingdom, the forefront of which is the launch of the National Strategy for the Rights of disabled in the year 2012, in addition to updating its executive plan for the years (2023-2027) and the initiatives and activities it included in various fields. He also indicated all the accomplishments tasks in the National Human Rights Plan for the years (2022-2026) and the projects it includes to strengthen policies and develop systems, regulations, and decisions governing the implementation of international conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring their enjoyment of their comprehensive rights, and developing their capabilities in order to integrate them into the labour market. He also reflected all the actions taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance the effective participation of civil society organizations, through the establishment of about seventeen civil organizations concerned with the rights of this group, in which women with disabilities had a wide representation. Regarding academic and vocational care and rehabilitation services, the Minister referred to the joint national efforts aimed at providing all types of rehabilitation services, pointing also to the students who are integrated into all government schools, in addition to a package of direct and indirect projects and programmes, both material and in-kind, which are being launched. In cooperation with various sectors. At the final conclusion of his speech, the Minister of Social Development stressed that Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and the government’s programs have defined the Kingdom’s ongoing direction, and that it is moving forward towards activating the role of all societal groups, including people with disabilities, in the sustainable development process, to achieve best practices, based on the constitutional principles in the Kingdom, In compliance with international conventions. For their part, the Chairman and members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) noted the great progress achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain in terms of supporting persons with disabilities, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain has demonstrated high efficiency in interacting with the UN Committee and providing clear responses to the Committee’s inquiries, raising The required reports at the specified times, and establishing a constructive and continuous dialogue with the Kingdom of Bahrain in this regard. The delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Legislation and Legal Opinion Authority, in addition to the team supporting the delegation in Bahrain, representatives of the Supreme Council for Women. The Supreme Council for Sports, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Labor, the General Secretariat of Grievances, the Ministry of Housing, and the Public Prosecution.