Challenges Online posted on August 03, 2009 13:39
Kuala Lumpur, July 31, 2009 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) unveiled its mascots for disabilities at its National Disability Advocacy & Awareness Campaign 2009 launch at SEGI University College today.
The national campaign organised by UNDP and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development with its theme ‘Real Lives, Real Abilities’ aims to raise the profile of disability issues in Malaysia.
In his welcome speech, Mr Kamal Malhotra, UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam said societal stereotyping of people with disabilities is one of the root causes of inequality and social exclusion and there is a crucial need for advocacy and awareness amongst all strata of Malaysians to remove misplaced stereotypes and create better understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities as rightful and equal members of society.
Mr Kamal added, “We strongly believes that the issues preventing the enjoyment of inherent rights and equality, with full participation and meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities into their communities are barriers that can be broken down with an attitudinal change of society at large.”
Mr Kamal who is also the Uniteed Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative for Malaysia revealed that in meeting this need, UNDP in collaboration with the Economic Planning Unit and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, had started two pilot projects aimed at increasing the economic and social independence of people with disabilities in Malaysia.
The two projects in Johor and Penang would provide a framework to reduce barriers that persons with disabilities face in finding and retaining employment and in accessing public transportation.
Y.B. Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development said
that there is a great need to improve services delivery as well as mainstream disability issues in our national agenda and progarmmes. She called upon Malaysians with disabilities to register with the Social Welfare Department to enable her Ministry to plan programmes and services for them effectively.
She commended UNDP and SEGi for their collaboration in organising the mascot design competition and reaching out to the youth to ensure they understand and support people with disabilities with empathy.
Professor Dr Muhamad Awang, Vice Chancellor, SEGi University College observed that the launch of this campaign is timely, to highlight the plight and needs of the disabled people.
He said, "In order to truly represent the disabilities issues in the correct light, students needed to have the right understanding of each type of disability. Feedback from students reflect that participation in this competition has indeed instilled their empathy and understanding towards people with disabilities."
The winning mascots for disabilities were selected from 109 entries of a creative design competition organized by UNDP in partnership with SEGi University College and its students. The selected designs will be incorporated into campaign materials and will be distributed widely across the country.
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