Phnom Penh: On the morning of September 27, 2023, H.E Em Chan Makara, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, and also the Secretary General of the Disability Action Council, attended an important meeting with Dr. Kong Vichetra, the founder of the Persons with Disabilities Foundation, and Ms. Giovanna Cowley, the program director of the Damnok Toek Organization at the Ministry.

During this meeting, H.E Em Chan Makara expressed his strong support for the ongoing efforts of both organizations to improve the living conditions of children and youth with disabilities in Cambodia. He specifically mentioned the notable success achieved through the implementation of the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and other related legal frameworks. H.E Em Chan Makara emphasized that this success was not a matter of chance but a result of collaborative efforts from all parties involved.

Dr. Kong Vichetra, the founder of the Persons With Disabilities Foundation, extended his congratulations to H.E Em Chan Makara on his appointment as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation in the new seventh mandate. Dr. Kong Vichetra provided an update on the foundation’s collaboration with the Damnok Toek Organization, aimed at promoting and advancing the rights of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis and economic hardships in recent years, Dr. Kong Vichetra managed to secure funding from private companies to support children with intellectual disabilities. The foundation’s goal is to establish a Center of Excellence that will provide education, training, skills development, and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. This center will also serve as a model resource for training professionals and specialized officers dedicated to assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Kong Vichetra requested the Ministry of Social Affairs, particularly H.E Em Chan Makara and the Secretary General of the Disability Action Council, to support this vital mission.

Mrs. Giovanna, the Program Director of Damnok Toek Organization and Disability School, provided an overview of Damnok Toek Organization’s history and its activities in supporting vulnerable children in three target areas: Kep, Neak Leung, and Poipet. In particular, she highlighted their efforts to support young people with intellectual disabilities in Kep Province, offering opportunities for them to live independently within the community.

Mrs. Pernille from LEV, or Inclusion Denmark, representing the Parents Association for the Mentally Handicapped, discussed the status of a one-year pilot project that is currently initiating with the Danish government to support young people with disabilities, specifically those with weak memory.

In response, H.E Em Chan Makara commended the efforts of the Disability Foundation and the Damnok Toek Organization in assisting the Royal Government and the Ministry of Social Affairs in implementing the National Disability Strategic Plan. He also mentioned the upcoming ACCESS program and encouraged both organizations to prepare their budget applications for it.

Furthermore, Secretary of State Em Chan Makara emphasized that the Ministry and the General Secretariat are committed to the well-being and rights of all Persons with disabilities. DAC have been actively working on a new law to better serve the interests of people with disabilities. Additionally, they are in the process of finalizing a report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will be presented to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities following approval from the Royal Government.