Phnom Penh, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is making strides in promoting the right to access information for persons with disabilities in Cambodia. This initiative is part of the UN Joint Programme and involves extensive research to understand and address the challenges faced by this community.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a workshop was held on December 11 in Phnom Penh, gathering over 60 experts and representatives from various sectors, including Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, the government, civil society, media, and academia. The purpose was to validate the findings of UNESCO’s research in Cambodia, which aims to identify key challenges that persons with disabilities face in accessing information. The workshop also facilitated the development of policy recommendations to eliminate barriers that hinder the information rights of people with disabilities.
The discussions and contributions during the workshop will culminate in the publication of the first-of-its-kind report, “Information Needs Assessment for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia,” set to be launched in early 2024. Produced in collaboration with the Cambodia Development Resource Institute, the report will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of information accessibility among persons with disabilities in Cambodia. It will assess the implementation of national legal and policy instruments, identify barriers, and pinpoint the types of information needed by this community.
The research utilized a mixed-methods approach, incorporating data from the 2021-22 Cambodia Demographic Health Survey (CDHS), reviews of 18 policies, and insights from interviews with persons with disabilities, government representatives, development partners, and Organization for Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). It was conducted across multiple locations in Cambodia, including Phnom Penh and four provinces.
H.E Em Chan Makara, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and Secretary-General of the Disability Action Council (DAC) of Cambodia, presided over the validation workshop. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure access to information for persons with disabilities and urged line ministries to utilize the report’s findings to design and implement effective policies and action plans.
Cambodia, as a State Party that ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), recognizes the equal rights of persons with disabilities, including the right to access information. The CDHS 2021-22 estimates that approximately 24.4% of the population in Cambodia has some degree of disability.