The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare and UNICEF Iran Office Launch Report on Children with Disability

In a joint event attended by his excellency, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, the Deputy Minister for International Affairs, the Head of the State Welfare Organization (SWO), NGOs and Heads of Diplomatic Missions, as well as Representative of UNICEF Iran, UNICEF’s  Flagship report , State of the World’s children 2013: Children with disabilities was officially launched in Iran, AVA Diplomatic Reports.In the ceremony held on 3 December, commemorating world day of people with disabilities, the minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Rabie, emphasized the need to pay due attention to people living with disabilities and expressed interest to expand cooperation in this regard at international level.

”I would like to thank UNICEF for preparing this comprehensive report on Children with disabilities. Hopefully the report can be a major step towards global unity and mobilization for solving the problems of children living with disabilities” said the Minister in his speech.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Representative in Iran, Munir Safieldin in his speech quoted parts of the report as saying “children with disabilities are the least likely to receive health care or go to school. “

According to the report these children are among the most vulnerable to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.

 “The full potential of children with disabilities is being limited by social attitudes that focus on what children with disabilities cannot do, rather than what they can offer. “ said Mr. Safieldin “If a society continues to see the disability before it sees the child, the risk of exclusion and discrimination remains.”

Mr. Safieldin then submitted a copy of the UNICEF report to the minister and expressed hope that next year Iran will be commemorating this day with a celebration for the achievements it has made for children and people with disabilities.

UNICEF Representative urged the participants to review the findings and recommendations of the report. He stated that this report represents UNICEF’s contribution to make the voice of children living with disabilities loudly heard.

In this event, the Head of State Welfare Organization, Dr. Hashemi, stated that 1.2 million people living with disabilities are benefiting from continues services of the SWO and 2.2 million are using rehabilitation services provided by this organization. Enlisting some of the services the SWO is providing to children and people living with disabilities, he emphasized the important role of the civil society organizations in reaching out to all people in Iran living with disabilities.

The event was widely attended by representatives of ministries and government entities, civil society organizations, diplomatic missions, media and a large number of people living with disabilities as well as UNICEF Iran Goodwill Ambassador, Mahtab Keramati.