PRESIDENT GIVES SPEECH AT ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON PARTNERSHIP FOR DISABLED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj delivered a speech at a roundtable meeting titled “International and regional cooperation and partnership for inclusive development with participation of the disabled” held Monday in New York, USA.
Beginning his speech, Mr Elbegdorj pleased to speak at this interactive roundtable meeting of the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on International and regional cooperation and partnerships for disability inclusive development, and commend the United Nations (UN), particularly the General Assembly, for its stewardship in choosing this focused theme of the High Level Meeting of the UNGA 68 session and convening this historic event to seek urgent action for the realization of internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities.
“Disability is increasingly recognized as a cross-cutting development issue. However, the persons with disabilities, constituting world's largest minority, yet remain largely invisible in most mainstream development processes. In this sense today's High Level Meeting is timely event of immense significance as we are reviewing the MDG's implementation and discussing transformative changes for the post-2015 goals. I am confident that the High Level Meeting will provide sound guidance and result in a concise, action-oriented outcome document to advance the implementation of all the internationally agreed development goals,” Mr Elbegdorj said.
“We are here today to say that we are committed to strengthening our concerted efforts to ensure that the persons with disabilities are included in all aspects of development. It commands us to consolidate international cooperation at all levels. Mongolia encourages wider ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol, as both human rights and development instruments, and strong follow up of the World Programme for Action concerning Disabled Persons.
Mongolia supports the ongoing intergovernmental processes and mechanisms, including the open working group on sustainable development goals. It is important that these processes be open to and inclusive of persons with disabilities. We are also of view that the post 2015 framework must have explicit inclusion of disability,” Mr Elbegdorj said.
“People with disability make up almost 3% of the total population of Mongolia, half of them living in countryside. They are more vulnerable in times of economic turmoil and weather harshness, in some cases they encounter social exclusion, as do their families, and they face a greater risk of living in poverty or having limited access to education and employment. To address the needs of persons with disabilities, the Comprehensive Population Development Policy and National Program on Development and Protection of Persons with Disabilities were endorsed with active participation of disabled citizens, and a dedicated institutional entity was established. Mainstreaming the disability issue includes some 60 legal and other 50 national policy documents reflecting the voices of persons with disabilities.
Development, democracy, governance, human rights are interlinked. The right to political participation is fundamental to democracy. At the last Presidential election in my country citizens with visual defects were provided with opportunities to exercise their right to cast votes - for the first time ever,” he said, adding that Mongolia’s national goal in this regard is to have a supportive national community, where everyone can help foster a more inclusive and enriching environment, and where the persons with disabilities act as both agents and beneficiaries of development.
“My country has a small population incomparable to its vast territory. Historically, the state of Mongolia treasured every human life and pursued prodigious policies about caring the elderly, young, and women, poor and disabled people. I salute my compatriots winning at Paralympics, and I am proud of thousands of my fellow Mongols - persons with disabilities, contributing to the advancement of the nation in all spheres, every day.
Inclusive, equitable and sustainable development is for all people, with or without disabilities. Addressing the disability issue is not charity deed, but societal endevour to make genuine equalization of opportunities to come true. I am confident that the nations aligned under the UN Post-2015 disability inclusive development goals can make real changes in the life of their disabled citizens. And I earnestly believe that with such aptitude our endeavor at regional and international level will be rewarding and bring tangible outcomes. This is the way forward: towards our common brighter future,” the President said.
SOURCE OF THIS ARTICLE : Montsame.mn
Beginning his speech, Mr Elbegdorj pleased to speak at this interactive roundtable meeting of the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on International and regional cooperation and partnerships for disability inclusive development, and commend the United Nations (UN), particularly the General Assembly, for its stewardship in choosing this focused theme of the High Level Meeting of the UNGA 68 session and convening this historic event to seek urgent action for the realization of internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities.
“Disability is increasingly recognized as a cross-cutting development issue. However, the persons with disabilities, constituting world's largest minority, yet remain largely invisible in most mainstream development processes. In this sense today's High Level Meeting is timely event of immense significance as we are reviewing the MDG's implementation and discussing transformative changes for the post-2015 goals. I am confident that the High Level Meeting will provide sound guidance and result in a concise, action-oriented outcome document to advance the implementation of all the internationally agreed development goals,” Mr Elbegdorj said.
“We are here today to say that we are committed to strengthening our concerted efforts to ensure that the persons with disabilities are included in all aspects of development. It commands us to consolidate international cooperation at all levels. Mongolia encourages wider ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol, as both human rights and development instruments, and strong follow up of the World Programme for Action concerning Disabled Persons.
Mongolia supports the ongoing intergovernmental processes and mechanisms, including the open working group on sustainable development goals. It is important that these processes be open to and inclusive of persons with disabilities. We are also of view that the post 2015 framework must have explicit inclusion of disability,” Mr Elbegdorj said.
“People with disability make up almost 3% of the total population of Mongolia, half of them living in countryside. They are more vulnerable in times of economic turmoil and weather harshness, in some cases they encounter social exclusion, as do their families, and they face a greater risk of living in poverty or having limited access to education and employment. To address the needs of persons with disabilities, the Comprehensive Population Development Policy and National Program on Development and Protection of Persons with Disabilities were endorsed with active participation of disabled citizens, and a dedicated institutional entity was established. Mainstreaming the disability issue includes some 60 legal and other 50 national policy documents reflecting the voices of persons with disabilities.
Development, democracy, governance, human rights are interlinked. The right to political participation is fundamental to democracy. At the last Presidential election in my country citizens with visual defects were provided with opportunities to exercise their right to cast votes - for the first time ever,” he said, adding that Mongolia’s national goal in this regard is to have a supportive national community, where everyone can help foster a more inclusive and enriching environment, and where the persons with disabilities act as both agents and beneficiaries of development.
“My country has a small population incomparable to its vast territory. Historically, the state of Mongolia treasured every human life and pursued prodigious policies about caring the elderly, young, and women, poor and disabled people. I salute my compatriots winning at Paralympics, and I am proud of thousands of my fellow Mongols - persons with disabilities, contributing to the advancement of the nation in all spheres, every day.
Inclusive, equitable and sustainable development is for all people, with or without disabilities. Addressing the disability issue is not charity deed, but societal endevour to make genuine equalization of opportunities to come true. I am confident that the nations aligned under the UN Post-2015 disability inclusive development goals can make real changes in the life of their disabled citizens. And I earnestly believe that with such aptitude our endeavor at regional and international level will be rewarding and bring tangible outcomes. This is the way forward: towards our common brighter future,” the President said.
SOURCE OF THIS ARTICLE : Montsame.mn
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