The Situation of People with Disabilities in Cambodia
This section gives a brief overview of the situation of people with disabilities in Cambodia. Whilst 10 years ago the primary of disability in Cambodia was mine/ UXO related incidents, recent research indicated that the causes of disability are changing for example these is today a much higher prevalence of mobility incidents related disability.In 2003 to be the disabled 1.5% of Cambodia hastotal population-while the 2004 CSES (census) estimated the disability rate in Cambodia to be 4.7%. Relating this percent age to the estimated 2006 population of 14 million indicates that approximate 663,995 of Cambodians have a disability. NIS reported
Type of Disability
Among disabled people, the distribution of disability by type was estimated in the 2005.| Male | Female | |
| Moving difficulties | 25.8% | 18.9% |
| Feeling difficulties | 12.5% | 10.6% |
| Phusiological | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| Leaning difficulties | 3.0% | 2.9% |
| People who have fits | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| Other | 7.8% | 6.6% |
| 100 | 100 | |
| (Source National Institute of Statistice 2005) | ||
Causes of Disability
Cause of disability in Cambodia in 2004 were disease (Or illness) and old age accounting for 52% accidents and injuries (including war and violence related). ADB 2005 reportedPoverty
People with disabilities (PWD) are among the most vulnerable groups in Cambodian society. They suffer even more than the general population from limited access to basic social services, education, skills and vocational training, job placement, and income generation opportunities. As a result, many PWD are extremely poor. Income generation for PWD thus not only contributes to establish a sense of dignity and self-confidence among PWD, but it is also directly linked to poverty reduction and development. There is much potential for expansion of activity in this field.Discrimination
PWD also face discrimination by other Cambodians which prevents them from functioning as full members of society. This is due to a combination of a decline of community spirit as a result of conflict, the Buddhist belief in Karma which influences the view that disability is the result of bad actions in previous lives, and a general lack of public awareness and understanding of disability issues.Disability Awareness
Public awareness and mass education campaigns on the inclusion of PWDs in the mainstream development programmes of Cambodia, by mobilizing the private sector and the community for eradication of discrimination, are almost non-existent. Such campaigns are needed to promote awareness of the rights of PWD; the abilities that PWD possess; and to overcome inaccurate stereotypes that PWD cannot be productive members of society.Accessibility
The building environment of Cambodia contains many obstacles for PWDs as well. The majority of public buildings, hospitals and schools have been built with complete lack of consideration for the needs of disabled people, and they find it difficult to navigate public thoroughfares due to obstructions, uneven and unpaved surfaces, steps, and suchlike.At present the responsibility for building and construction permits is not clearly regulated. Also, the legislation on disability is still in draft form. Hence it is difficult at this stage to place responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of accessibility features on a specific government body.
Education
The Khmer Rouge regime (1975 - 1979) oversaw the almost complete destruction of the education system, which has been trying to recover ever since. After a lengthy period of emergency relief and emergency deployment of teachers, there has been a growing emphasis since the early 1990s on government-led policy reform. However, the education system still has very limited capacity and resources, particularly in rural areas, where most disabled people are located. For PWDs, formal and non-formal education are among the services essential for development of children's capacity and a vital means for empowerment and self-help. To date, education programmes for PWD have been implemented solely by NGOs, and have focused on children with disabilities. A limited number of special schools and classes exist, as do a few community-based initiatives.Collectively these services provide for only a fraction of children with disabilities in Cambodia; are concentrated mainly in urban areas; and cater almost exclusively for children with physical disabilities and sensory impairments. Educational opportunities for adults with disabilities are still minimal. A small number of children with disabilities are included into the mainstream education system; however, the present school environment does not facilitate integration. The Disability Action Council, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, is coordinating a national policy and piloting inclusive education programmes for children with disabilities.
Training and Employment
Skills training, income generation and job placement are important means of rehabilitating PWD. In Cambodia, PWD typically come from the poor and poorest segments of society. It is a high priority for these people to gain an income for themselves and their families. Existing training and employment programmes can be categorized as follows:- Provision of vocational training (which can include literacy, numeracy and small business management;
- Referral services to training providers and employers;
- Production of crafts for the local market and export through production workshops or independent producer groups
- Self-employment usually requires access to credit facilities. Poor PWD find it particularly difficult to access credit;
- PWD often face discrimination when job-seeking. Non-disabled people have very low belief in their abilities
National Social Welfare System for People with Disabilities
Central Government
Five Cambodian Government ministries and their line departments directly or indirectly offer social welfare support for the general population, including people with disabilities. These ministries are mainly responsible for providing opportunities to PWD to be included in mainstream society. However, as PWD are not their specific target groups, programmes and projects are usually designed for the general population.The five ministries are:
- Ministry of Social Affair Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSAVY)
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS)
- Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA)
- Ministry of Health (MOH)
- Ministry of Rural Development (MORD)
Within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS), a Special Education Office is responsible for promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities. The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) is responsible for all affairs relating women in Cambodia. Almost 50 percent of the 1999 National Budget was allocated to defense and national security - nearly twice as much as the health, education, environment, social and women's affairs sectors combined. This imbalance has decreased only slightly since then. In practice, therefore, due to the lack of resources of government ministries, NGOs and international organizations have been the main implementers of programmes and services for PWDs
