The document of first 'Arab Classification for Persons with Disabilities' was adopted at the conclusion of ‘Second Workshop on Arab Classification for Disability’, to empower persons with disabilities, in Doha on Tuesday.
The document will be presented to the Arab ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in December in preparation for tabling it for the final approval at the upcoming Arab summit at the level of leaders of Arab countries.
Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad chaired the workshop which was organised by the Ministry of Social Development and the Family in cooperation with Secretariat General of Arab League.
Arab delegations participating in the workshop unanimously adopted the document, which is considered a historical document being adopted by first region in the world.
The document is a unified classification of disability with integrated criteria including medical standard which is an essential step to ensure the success of empowerment and inclusion programmes and policies for this category in their societies in the Arab world.
This will raise the legal level of services, facilities and resources allocated to make persons with disabilities lead a quality life with better communication and interaction with their communities.
The Minister of Social Development and Family said that the adoption of the classification puts the Arab world at the forefront of global efforts in this regard as the first region in the world succeeded in doing so.
She expressed her pride in the tireless and continuous efforts of Qatar in harnessing all possible means to care for persons with disabilities at local and international levels.
Minister of Social Development of Jordan H E Ayman Al Mufleh, who is also Head of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, lauded Qatar for its generous hospitality and efforts to make the workshop a success.
Describing the adoption of the classification as a pride for the Arabs, the Jordanian Minister appreciated the efforts made by Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, in unifying Arab efforts to adopt this classification.
Arab League’s Assistant Secretary-General, and Head of Social Affairs H E Dr. Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh expressed her happiness with the great success achieved by the workshop.
She said Qatar played a key role in adopting this Classification, describing it a historic initiative. The second workshop on the Arab classification of disability witnessed wide official Arab participation, in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies, Ministers and officials from the General Secretariat of the Arab League, heads and members of delegations of sister Arab countries, concerned with policy-making for persons with disabilities.
The two-day workshop witnessed extensive deliberations and discussions, the conclusion of which was the adoption of the first unified classification of persons with disabilities in the world.
Source: The Peninsula, Qatar
