EMIRATE AIMS TO EMPOWER SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE; TO BE THE ‘CITY FOR EVERYONE’
DUBAI, March, 12– UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has issued a law to protect the rights of people with disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai.
This law supports Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 concerning the rights of people with special needs. It confirms the attention given by Dubai to this important segment of the community and its leading role in the process of continuous building and development.
The new law brings together cooperation among all concerned authorities in Dubai to provide health care services, therapeutic services, habitation and rehabilitation for people with disabilities, in addition to providing educational opportunities that are equal to those provided to their peers.
The law stipulates providing full public services to people with special needs, including the use of roads, public transport, police and judicial services to ensure their integration within the community.
The law aims to implement the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, to make Dubai a role model in promoting the participation of people with disabilities, by providing them with all the services necessary to strengthen their position as an effective element of the society.
It contributes to deepening integration among concerned authorities to create eligible infrastructure and services, which allow citizens with special needs easy access to all facilities and services. It also aims to provide them with quality health care and social services support, in addition to creating broad community awareness that contributes to integrating them in society and confirms their participation in the development and evolution of the state.
The law aims to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy all their rights, enhance their respect, preserve their dignity and protect them from all forms of discrimination or abuse , negligence or exploitation. It is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
As per the provisions of the new law, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, has issued a resolution to form a higher committee for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai.
The higher committee is to be chaired by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Members of the Higher Committee include the Secretary General of the Executive Council Abdullah Al Shiebani, as Vice-Chairman with the membership of Dubai Police Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Muzainah; Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Mattar Al Tayer; Director General of Dubai Municipality Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah; Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Director General Isa Al Maidour; Director General of Dubai Department of Economic Development and Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) Sami Al Qamzi; Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai Khaled Al Kemda; Chairman and Director General of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) Dr. Abdullah Al Karam; Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif; with the participation of members representing the category of people with disabilities.
The resolution is effective from the date of issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette. “We look to the category of people with special needs as an active and instrumental partner in building our society, our achievements and assuming advanced positions we aspire for together,” said Sheikh Hamdan, on the issuance of the law.
“We aim to promote community empowerment for them by providing them the opportunity to unlock their potential and prove their ability to give through a qualified and flexible environment in which we all interact as one community, each complementing the other,” the Dubai Crown Prince added.
Sheikh Hamdan pointed out that Dubai, as a cosmopolitan city, provides unparalleled opportunities for its residents and visitors. “Through this initiative, we will be able to harness these opportunities to make Dubai a city for all. We will also work together with our brothers and sisters with disabilities to contribute in the development of various aspects of life through creating a society that preserves the rights of people with disabilities now and for generations to come.”
The resolution to form a Higher Committee for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities is complementary to My community a City for Everyone’ initiative launched by Crown Prince of Dubai in November 2013.
The resolution aims to empower people with disabilities and maximize the participation and integration of this category into the community. It will also create new opportunities through which to overcome obstacles that may stand in the way of positively engaging and integrating this segment into the social environment as individuals who possess productive and creative capabilities.–Wam
The Higher Committee will deal with several tasks to implement the new law, including the endorsement of policies, plans and initiatives to protect the rights of people with disabilities, adoption of rules and regulations as well as priorities related to the basic needs necessary for the care and rehabilitation of people with disabilities and their integration in the society.
In addition to the adoption of frameworks of cooperation and coordination between authorities concerned with people with disabilities, the Higher Committee will activate a mechanism of communication between authorities and the Committee, develop a framework to oversee the implementation of the decisions and recommendations issued by the committee, as well as build the necessary partnerships with the private sector in the emirate to ensure people with special needs obtain the rights and benefits allocated to them.