NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia underlined measures taken to enhance social protection of people with disabilities and achieve full social integration of this important group of society. This came in the Kingdom's speech during the 12th session of the Convention on Persons with Disabilities (2019) held at the UN headquarters in New York. The speech was delivered by the counselor of the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the UN, minister plenipotentiary Ahmed Al-Frian. He said the Kingdom guarantees the rights of citizens and their families in case of emergencies, sickness, disability and old age. The regulation of care for the people with disabilities in the Kingdom was issued in 2002 and it guarantees their rights. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development supervises 38 houses for comprehensive rehabilitation in different areas in the Kingdom. There are 44 specialized organizations and 347 day care centers for persons with disabilities in all age groups suffering from different disabilities. Some 7% of Saudi population suffers from disability (weak or severe). Men constitute 4% while women 3.5%. Some 23% with intermediate or higher education have multiple disabilities and 58% of them are married. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued directives on Tuesday to all government authorities to use the term "people with disabilities" in all official correspondence and press statements. This royal directive is in approval of the recommendation made by the Minister of Labor and Social Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Commission for the Care of People with Disabilities Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi to use the term "people with disabilities" after noticing the use of different terms to describe people with disabilities in various correspondence, reports and press statements issued by government authorities. Meanwhile, the CEO of the Commission for the Care of People with Disabilities Dr. Hisham Bin Muhammad Al-Haidari said the royal directive to unify the use of the term "people with disabilities" in all official correspondence in the Kingdom, is in conformity with the goals the Commission. These include ensuring that the people with disabilities are cared for and get their rights, while improving the services being provided by government authorities.
