08-12-2008
The Australian High Commission marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities with disabled children from the Puttalam District in an event organised by Child Vision Puttalam. The organisation specialises in the provision of therapy and early intervention for children with disabilities in the Puttalam District. Cecilia Brennan Second Secretary, participated in the event which aimed at encouraging equity in opportunities for disabled persons and their inclusion in society.
As part of Australia?s commitment to increasing social participation for the disabled, the Australian Government will announce a national disability policy in 2009. The new strategy, ?Development for All?, aims to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, strengthen prevention efforts and promote international leadership on disability and development. It also seeks to improve understanding of disability and development across the Asia Pacific region.
An estimated 650 million people across the world have a disability and about 80 per cent of the population with a disability live in developing countries. The Asia Pacific region is home to two-thirds of this population.
In support of the Australian Government?s strategy, the Australian High Commission in Colombo has partnered with local organisations to provide development assistance to the disabled through projects on health care, education, access to facilities and social inclusion. This year the High Commission through its Direct Aid Program (DAP) has funded Child Vision in Puttalam for the purchase and distribution of therapy equipment for disabled children, the Centre for Handicapped Kandy for the provision of limbs for 52 people, three class rooms for the Sith Sevana Children\'s Development Society in Thanamalwila and the Sunera Foundation for workshop on social inclusion through Performing Arts in Anuradhapura.
Australia has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and actively promotes the implementation of the convention, a vital instrument to encourage equity and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Australia supports the disabled through 'Development for All'
Lanka Everything
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