Since ADD International began its work in Cambodia in 1995, a significant number of disabled people have become aware of their rights. ADD Cambodia now works with and supports disabled people in 12 provinces in 687 villages, with 708 Self-help Groups, and reaches 9,525 disabled people.
Work here focuses on building the capacity of Disabled People’s Organizations to ensure they become independent and sustainable membership organizations, uniting and strengthening the voices of disabled people. ADD Cambodia also works closely with community councils and other development NGO’s to mainstream Disability into Cambodia’s poverty reduction strategy. This entails supporting disabled people and their organizations to engage in income generating activities, improving the quality of life of both disabled people and their families.
ADD Cambodia is committed to contributing to monitoring the implementation of Disability Law and supports disabled people’s organizations to eradicate discrimination and protect the rights of disabled people. ADD Cambodia also directly supports marginalized groups of disabled people, who are often overlooked by the Disability Movement itself. In collaboration with the Japan League on Developmental Disability (JLDD) the “Community Support for Persons with Intellectual Disability” has been launched and is gradually changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. As a result, many intellectually disabled people have become productive members of their families and communities.
Capacity Development
ADD Cambodia has played an important role in establishing and building the capacity of the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO), Cambodia’s first disabled people’s organization. ADD’s work with CDPO, and 27 other disabled people’s organization across the country, has contributed significantly to building a strong national disability movement. With ADD Cambodia’s support, disabled people’s organizations of various sizes continue to emerge. The disabled people that make up these organizations are committed in their fight for the equal rights of disabled people and strengthening the growing disability movement.
In 2010, ADD is providing support for and working directly with seven DPOs in three provinces. ADD Cambodia also provides support indirectly to 21 DPOs in other provinces through the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO).
Influence
ADD Cambodia works to mainstream disability into Cambodia’s poverty reduction strategy, development NGO’s and policy makers. This involves improving the skills of disabled people, enabling them to enter the economy and generate their own income.
A
t the national level, ADD Cambodia is working to influence development NGOs and policy makers to mainstream disability into their plans and to involve persons with disability in their development initiatives. At the community level, ADD Cambodia is working with six newly established DPOs in six provinces to influence the Community Council and local development NGOs to include disabled people in their skill training and income generating initiatives. ADD Cambodia also works to ensure that disabled people have improved access to public services and participation in community development activities.
Legislation
The first national Cambodian law protecting the rights of disabled people was passed 2009. ADD Cambodia has been involved in the development of disability legislation since 1996, supporting CDPO in drafting the disability law. It was submitted in 2000 and ADD Cambodia continued to support CDPO by lobbying the government to pass this law. Taking over eight years of hard work and persistence by disabled people’s organizations, the law was finally passed on July 3rd, 2009.
Work here focuses on building the capacity of Disabled People’s Organizations to ensure they become independent and sustainable membership organizations, uniting and strengthening the voices of disabled people. ADD Cambodia also works closely with community councils and other development NGO’s to mainstream Disability into Cambodia’s poverty reduction strategy. This entails supporting disabled people and their organizations to engage in income generating activities, improving the quality of life of both disabled people and their families.
ADD Cambodia is committed to contributing to monitoring the implementation of Disability Law and supports disabled people’s organizations to eradicate discrimination and protect the rights of disabled people. ADD Cambodia also directly supports marginalized groups of disabled people, who are often overlooked by the Disability Movement itself. In collaboration with the Japan League on Developmental Disability (JLDD) the “Community Support for Persons with Intellectual Disability” has been launched and is gradually changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. As a result, many intellectually disabled people have become productive members of their families and communities.
Capacity Development
ADD Cambodia has played an important role in establishing and building the capacity of the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO), Cambodia’s first disabled people’s organization. ADD’s work with CDPO, and 27 other disabled people’s organization across the country, has contributed significantly to building a strong national disability movement. With ADD Cambodia’s support, disabled people’s organizations of various sizes continue to emerge. The disabled people that make up these organizations are committed in their fight for the equal rights of disabled people and strengthening the growing disability movement.
In 2010, ADD is providing support for and working directly with seven DPOs in three provinces. ADD Cambodia also provides support indirectly to 21 DPOs in other provinces through the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO).
Influence
ADD Cambodia works to mainstream disability into Cambodia’s poverty reduction strategy, development NGO’s and policy makers. This involves improving the skills of disabled people, enabling them to enter the economy and generate their own income.
A
t the national level, ADD Cambodia is working to influence development NGOs and policy makers to mainstream disability into their plans and to involve persons with disability in their development initiatives. At the community level, ADD Cambodia is working with six newly established DPOs in six provinces to influence the Community Council and local development NGOs to include disabled people in their skill training and income generating initiatives. ADD Cambodia also works to ensure that disabled people have improved access to public services and participation in community development activities.
Legislation
The first national Cambodian law protecting the rights of disabled people was passed 2009. ADD Cambodia has been involved in the development of disability legislation since 1996, supporting CDPO in drafting the disability law. It was submitted in 2000 and ADD Cambodia continued to support CDPO by lobbying the government to pass this law. Taking over eight years of hard work and persistence by disabled people’s organizations, the law was finally passed on July 3rd, 2009.
By Son Song Hak
ADD Cambodia
August 2010