Phnom Penh, December 11-12, 2018 – On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations Secretary General pledged that “let’s reaffirm our commitment to work together for a better world that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable for everyone, where the rights of people with disabilities are fully realized.”
 
In this spirit, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), development partners, civil society, private sector and especially persons with disabilities are gathering to discuss and design a new 2019-2023 National Disability Strategic Plan to ensure persons with disabilities live in quality and equality.  
 
It is timely and universally relevant to develop the new Strategic Plan with its main objective to improve the quality of life for people who live with disabilities while the theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.”  Cambodia’s National Disability Strategic Plan is recognized as a legal roadmap to provide a direction to government ministries and institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, Disabled People’s Organizations and private sector to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of persons with disabilities. 
 
“UNDP has supported the Disability Action Council in implementing the last five-year National Disability Strategic Plan under the Disability Rights Initiative Cambodia (DRIC), and today’s event marks our continued support to the RGC in developing the new Strategic Plan and our joint commitment to ensuring that all people, particularly those facing discrimination and exclusion, have access and voice and can participate meaningfully in every aspect of life,” says Nick Beresford, UNDP Country Director. 
 
Attending this event, H.E. Em Chan Makara, Secretary General of DAC says, “this two-day national workshop is an opportunity to collect inputs from all participants from different but relevant stakeholders on what strategies or main activities to be included in the new National Disability Strategic Plan. And we need to ensure they are achievable, measurable and have enough resources to implement the plan for the sake of those living with a disability.”
 
Indeed, the new National Disability Strategic Plan is designed in a way that contributes to the full realization of the promise of the 2030 Agenda and its core pledge of leaving no one behind.