KUWAIT, Dec 3 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti and United Nations officials have called for greater attention to inclusion of persons of special cases into societies and paving the way for this segment to play a role in all aspects of life.
Tarek Al-Sheikh. United Nations Secretary General Representative and Resident Coordinator to Kuwait, has indicated that attaining such a goal would require collective efforts to help this segment in coping with crises, such as the current coronavirus plight.
Persons of disabilities have been deeply affected with economic, social and health impact of the global coronavirus pandemic, thus collective efforts must be boosted at help them in the integration process, Al-Sheikh noted.
His remarks came in a joint statement released by the UN office in Kuwait and Kuwait Society for the Handicapped, marking The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) that fell today (Thursday).
UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities Gerard Quinn has praised the State of Kuwait policies, legislations and programs to protect citizens of special challenges, inclusion plans for this segment in the 2020-25 national development scheme as well as in the 2035 development strategy.
Al-Sheikh expressed admiration of of Public Authority for the Disabled approach of categorizing the special cases as among the most afflicted with the pandemic globally.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Representative in the Gulf Al-Tayeb Adam said children of special challenges are much more vulnerable to the pandemic effects than adults.
For her part, Resident Representative of UNDP Kuwait, Hideko Hadzialic, has affirmed that the Public Authority for the Disabled, the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development and the Kuwaiti civil society "have been our partners since a long time ago" at this level.
She called for enabling the disabled to sharpen their skills and traits in Kuwait.
Shafiqa Al-Awadhi, the director general of the authority for the disabled, has noted that the State of Kuwait has devoted special concern for this segment out of its belief that they possess remarkable capacities.
Kuwait has secured all possible educational facilities for these persons to help them get merged well into the society. (end) ak.rk