Phnom Penh: On the afternoon of October 4, 2023, H.E Em Chan Makara, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and also the of Secretary-General of Disability Action Council, chaired an internal meeting. This meeting included Senior Ministers with expertise in Disability and those responsible for ASEAN Social Welfare and Development within Cambodia. The purpose of this meeting was to carefully review the contents of various documents in preparation for the upcoming ASEAN High-Level Forum (AHLF) on Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership Beyond 2025. These events are set to take place concurrently with the ASEAN-US Dialogue in Makassar, Indonesia.

The Cambodian delegation is gearing up to attend this important meeting, where they will have the opportunity to deliver a 10-minute keynote presentation at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Affairs.

The agenda for the ASEAN High-Level Forum (AHLF) on Disability-Inclusive Development, as well as the ASEAN-US High-Level Dialogue on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, aligns with the integration of disability perspectives into the global agenda. This integration spans across all three pillars of ASEAN, which include addressing challenges, exploring opportunities, and showcasing excellence in this vital area.