People with disabilities make up 13% of community — PM

AMMAN — People with disabilities constitute 13 per cent of the Jordanian community, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Tuesday, calling for drawing up plans in every ministry to address their needs

During a visit to the Higher Council for Affairs of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), Ensour added that the government will study the amendment of laws related to disabilities, in addition to others with articles dealing with people with disabilities such as the Penal Code.

The premier also praised HCD President HH Prince Mired’s efforts in leading the council, stressing that being disabled does not mean to be looked down upon or forgotten, but the opposite.

Prince Mired pointed out that only 3 per cent of children with disabilities receive proper education while the rest do not receive education at all.

The majority of people with disabilities face discrimination everywhere with the lack of accessibility in public places, schools, universities, and streets, the prince noted.

HCD deputy president Mohannad Azzeh, who is also a senator, said the political will to deal with rights issues related to people with disabilities is strong, with Jordan being one of the few Arab countries to ratify human rights accords and international agreements for people with disabilities.

The Kingdom ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities “in record time” in 2008, Azzeh noted.

Also speaking at the meeting, Planning Minister Imad Fakhoury said the ministry funded 63 rehabilitation projects for people with disabilities, at a cost of JD2.4 million.

Public Sector Development Minister Khleef Al Khawaldeh noted that the percentage of civil service job appointments for people with disabilities was raised from 6 to 10 per cent.

Social Development Minister Reem Abu Hassan stressed the importance of establishing a national fund for this segment of society to lessen the burden on the National Aid Fund, which deals with 12,000 cases of people with disabilities.

Higher Education Minster Labib Khadra said people with disabilities are now included in exemptions reaching 90 per cent of registration fees at universities, and that admission rules were amended for them.