The State enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law in 2015 to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, and the by-laws were issued in 2017. The National Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was reconstituted on 24 August 2023, and the activities of disability classification and registration of persons with disabilities were carried out in four townships during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, Goal 8 includes creating decent employment opportunities and ensuring equal pay for persons with disabilities, as well as reducing youth unemployment and promoting their inclusion in the labour market. Goal 10 also emphasizes enabling persons with disabilities to participate in social, economic, and political activities.
The 2024 Population and Housing Census data stated that 2.29 million people, accounting for 7.6 per cent of the population aged five years and above, have at least one type of disability in Myanmar. By type of disability, the most common categories nationwide are 4.1 per cent visual impairment, 3.1 per cent people with difficulty in mobility, such as handling objects, walking, or climbing stairs, 2.8 per cent people with memory or learning difficulties, and 2.7 per cent people with hearing impairment.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has established institutions, including a school for the blind in Yangon and Sagaing, schools for deaf children in Yangon and Mandalay, a training school for adults with disabilities in Mayangon Township, Yangon Region, training schools for children with disabilities in Yangon and Mandalay, and a care home for children with disabilities in Yangon.
Persons with disabilities need access to vocational education, employment opportunities, and personal income to live with dignity and independence. In Myanmar, persons with disabilities are supported through inclusive education, where they learn alongside others in mainstream schools, as well as through special education schools established for students with visual, hearing, and intellectual disabilities. In addition, vocational and technical training programmes are being provided to help them acquire skills and earn their own income.
To further improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, ensure equal rights with others, and promote respect for their dignity and capabilities, the entire society is encouraged to work together. Accordingly, parents and guardians, local authorities, and social organizations are urged to provide collective support and assistance so that qualified persons with disabilities can access education to improve their lives.
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