The Minister of Social Development heads the Bahrain delegation to the People with Disabilities Forum in Tunisia

03-10-2023

His Excellency Mr. Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al-Asfour, Minister of Social Development, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the high-level forum on the “Second Arab Decade for Persons with Disabilities 2023-2032”, which is held under the patronage of His Excellency Kais Saied, President of the sisterly Republic of Tunisia, and organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs. In the Republic of Tunisia, in cooperation with the League of Arab States, and in the presence of ministers of social affairs, representatives of a number of Arab and regional organizations, and experts and specialists in the field of disability. On this occasion, the Minister of Social Development stressed the importance of holding this forum to continue strengthening joint work and exchanging expertise and experiences with participating countries and delegations in the field of supporting and empowering people with disabilities, noting that the forum is an opportunity to learn about Arab experiences in protection and social care programs for this important group in society, in order to achieve For national and Arab aspirations and visions to advance their conditions socially and economically. An extraordinary session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs was also organized to consider the social issues on the agenda of the fifth session of the Arab Development, Economic and Social Summit, which will be held in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. On the sidelines of the forum, the Minister of Social Development met with Ms. Alessandra Locatelli, Minister of Disability Affairs of the Republic of Italy, and Mr. Ahmed Majdalani, Minister of Social Development of the State of Palestine, where he reviewed with them opportunities to enhance cooperation on issues related to people with disabilities. The forum aims to enhance the conditions of persons with disabilities to achieve equal opportunities and their full integration into society, and to support the efforts of Arab countries to continue implementing the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and to develop legislation and policies to respond to the needs of this segment of society. The Arab ministers discussed the exchange of Arab experiences and expertise related to the implementation of 17 axes emanating from the resolution of the 32nd Arab Summit held in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last May, related to legislation, policies, social, health and educational services and ensuring independent living, in addition to participation in political life, cultural and sporting activities, where The participating delegations were briefed on the pioneering social experiments in the Republic of Tunisia, especially with regard to the care, integration, rehabilitation and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. This forum is considered a culmination of the efforts of the Arab countries, under the supervision of the League of Arab States, in supporting the policies, programs and mechanisms that these countries provide for people with disabilities. The forum represents a reference framework for the Arab countries to protect, care and qualify this group in order to integrate them into economic and social life to ensure the principle of equal opportunities. This also comes The forum is within the framework of cooperation with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, and in implementation of the decision issued by the 42nd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs regarding Arab countries hosting the Council’s activities for the year 2023.