Mariam bint Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, has said that the constitution of the UAE acknowledges equality, social justice, education, healthcare, employment and equal opportunities for all citizens, as well as provides protection for minors and incapacitated.

Al Roumi added that the UAE had signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities upon the directives of the leadership to enable all citizens to exercise their full rights on equal footing, including persons with disabilities.

This came on the occasion of marking the 40th Arab Deaf Week, which is held from April 21st - April 27th each year under the theme, "Strengthening the rights of deaf people in the community through application of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

The celebration of this occasion is an opportunity for institutions and centres working in the field of rehabilitation of the deaf to educate them on the rights of the deaf in accordance with the United Nations Convention and the UAE federal law on the rights of the disabled people.

She noted, "The right of integration into the community is one of the most important rights of persons with disabilities referred to in the International Convention, which opens the door for more rights and services offered to this category."
Source: WAM