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WELCOME TO THE 22nd INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSON 03 DECEMBER 2004

WORLD VISION CAMBODIA DISABILITY RESEARCH 2004

An Official Installation of the DAC New Governing Board

An Official Installation of the Governing Board of the DAC was expected to be on 27 February 2004 from 08:30 to 10:00 a.m., at the National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh. H. E Nim Thot, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) will preside over the event by declaring the formal installation of the DAC Governing Board.

All 9 members of the DAC Governing Board at the installation ceremony

Name of the members of the new DAC Governing Board:

Representatives of Local NGOs:

Mr. Bun Mao, Director of Association of Blind Cambodians (ABC)
Mr. Ngin Saorath, Director of Cambodian Disabled Independent Living (CDILO)

Representatives of International NGOs:

Ms. Alison Rhodes, Country Director of the Cambodia Trust (CT)
Ms Edith van Wijngaarden, Coordinator, Rehabilitation Department, Handicap International, Belgium (HI-B)

Representative from Government Organisation:

Mr. Khuon Pheng, Director of Victim Assistance Department, Cambodia Mine Action and Victims Assistant Authority (CMAA)

Representatives from Ministries:

Mr. Touch Samon, Deputy Director General of Social Affairs and Youth Rehabilitation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSALVY)
Ms. Sieng Sorvathanna, Director of Pre-school Department, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MOEYS)
Dr. Prak Piseth Raingsey, Director of Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health (MOH)

Representative from the Business Sector:

Mr. Debashish SANYAL, Finance/Admin Manager, TOTAL Company, Cambodia

Quote from Mr. Debashish SANYAL, Finance and Admin Manager of TOTAL Company in Cambodia and a member of the new DAC Governing Board: «I feel proud to be the DAC Governing Board Member since its give me direct opportunity to be close with people with disabilities and guide them to a better and brighter future.

Unfortunately we call them disabled but at times they possess much higher ability than the ablest ones and can exhibit incredible work.

Certainly DAC is doing a commendable job but there is yet a considerable amount of tangible work that needs to be done to tap the potential productivity of the disabled people, which otherwise would go a waste».

Message from DAC affiliated member

Mr. Marc Hermant, Country Director of Handicap International Belgium in Cambodia: I have been requested to say a few words on behalf of DAC affiliated members. I’m sure however that we would all agree to congratulate the interim board members for the immense and very courageous tasks they have performed during this reorganization process. The DAC was in need of a serious reshuffle and the board members have had the courage to take all the difficult decisions. We would also all agree to congratulate the DAC staff members who have continued to perform their tasks scrupulously in this very uncertain period.

Today is an important day. The installation of the new Board is another big step in the reorganization process and opens the doors for the future. And if the challenges the interim board was confronted to 12 months ago were immense, I think the challenges ahead for the new board are even bigger. First the reorganization is still under process and must be completed carefully. And most importantly it is now time for DAC to really take its role in the disability sector. Because even if the running affairs have kept going during this interim period a lot remains to be done for DAC to meet the full scope of its mandate.

The DAC Mission statement says that: “DAC promotes, coordinates and strengthens the capacity of DAC affiliated members to initiate, secure the rights and services necessary for disabled persons, thus enabling them to enjoy equal rights, obligations, opportunities and quality of life as others in the community”

This is quite an ambitious mandate and knowing how immense is still the tasks in this country to indeed give to people with disability equal rights and opportunities we would all agree that there is no more time to waist.

Finally it is important to mention the faithful support of the donor community who has made DAC and this process possible. At last let me briefly escape my neutral position in delivering this speech to express a special thank to USAID which is providing an essential financial support to DAC.

Brief update on the Steering Groups other activities:

Finance/Admin Manager has been recruited and will start in mid January 2004.
Recruitment of the Director is ongoing. We hope to have someone is place very soon.
DAC Management Team-Punya Droz, Ngy San and Ou Brohs under the supervision of Steering Group member Ms. Ellen Minotti, are continuing to affectively manage the DAC programme under what has been a difficult time for all Secretariat staff. Our sincere thanks to them and the rest of the Secretariat staff for their dedication and commitment.

Recent Additions

Government Award for Mrs. Helen Pitt

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Helen Pitt for her outstanding contribution and efforts in assisting people with disabilities in Cambodia. The Government of Cambodia through MOSALVY decided to award its highest medal, the SAHAKMETREI Grade THIBDIN to Mrs. Helen Pitt, former DAC Executive Director and Advisor. The ceremony was organised on 27 May 2003 by MOSALVY and presided over by H.E. Ith Sam Heng, Minister of the MOSALVY presented the certificate, medal and Sub-decree to Ms. Pitt with participants included members of the DAC Steering Group, Senior staff of the MOSALVY and DAC Secretariat staff. Please click here for more information.

International Day of Disabled Persons in December 03rd 2003 Top

The Disability Action Council and its affiliated members are going to celebrate and organize 21st International Day of Disabled Persons in December 03rd 2003 at Samdech Hun Sen Park in Phnom Penh. It is the fifth times that Cambodia joins the world to celebrate this important event.

Cambodian Handi-Sport Days in December 2003 (2 days).

The National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia is going to organize the 8th Cambodian Handi-Sport Days in December 2003 with coordination of the Disability Action Council, and cooperation with local and International organizations in Cambodia. The event is 2 days long and either happens 2 days before or 2 days after the International Day of Disabled Persons in December 03rd 2003.

The contribution and support

The Organizing Committee would like to request for the contribution and support from Excellencies, generous guests, Companies, local, and international guests, overseas medias, and invite to join people with disabilities in Cambodia during these great events. For contribution, please contact DAC at dac@dac.org.kh or pdroz@dac.org.kh

DAC Organizational Development (DAC-OD) Top

United States Agency International Development/Leahy War Victim Fund (USAID/LWVF) continuation provided second cycle for another 3 years funding (2002-2005) to DAC through Handicap International-Belgium. There were 3 major recommendations as resulted from the external assessment in late 2001: Organizational Development, Capacity building and Fundraising.

The Organizational Development (OD) was the first priority to implement and funding was approved for the DAC-Secretariat to engage a OD Consultant. The support and assistance was provided to the Consultant to carry out the first phase to look at the restructuring of the DAC Board from 2-15 February 2003. Key findings produced:

Consultant's scope of work and TOR finalized and implemented.
OD Consultancy report with recommendations, phase 1 produced.
Feedback and comments from DAC-Secretariat on the Consultancy report provided.
DAC interim Steering Group (SG) established and carrying out its mandate.

The OD Consultant second phase from 03-12 July 2003 to look at the restructure of the DAC Secretariat. The consultant produced the report with recommendation and handover to the DAC Steering Group.

DAC interim Steering Group (SG)

Consists of the following members: Mr. Keo Soeun (MOSALVY), Mr. Son Song Hak (People with Disability Representative), Ms. Kathleen Biggs (former CT), Ms. Ellen Minotti (SSC), Ms. Edith van Wijngaarden (HI-B) and Mr. Khuon Pheng (CMAA). The Steering Group is mandated to:

Provide interim oversight to the Executive body until a new Governing Board (GB) assumes this responsibility.
Act as an interim Nominating Committee in order to convene a properly constituted GB.
Guide the OD Consultancy. The Consultant will report directly to the SG.
Provide progress updates to the DAC Advisory Committee.

National Workshop on Helping the Vulnerable Group

In Siem Reap province, from 26th -29th May 2003 DAC in partnership with MOEYS was organised a National Workshop on "Helping Vulnerable Children." Participants were staff members of relevant departments of the MOEYS, deputy directors and special needs officers from 24 provinces and NGOs representatives. In the Opening and Closing Ceremony was presided over by HE. Nou Muth, Under-Secretary of State of MOEYS. For detailed information Please click here.

National Workshop on Landmine Victim Assistance

National Workshop on Landmine Victim Assistance will be organized on 01 August 2003 at the National Institute Of Public Health-Toul Kok. The aim of the workshop to produce the National Plan of Action on Victim Assistance, which will be presented at the Regional 5th State Parties Meeting in September 2003, Bangkok-Thailand.

Handicap International initiated the Victim Assistance Project with assistance from the French, German, Norwegian wiss Governments. The Victim Assistance Project is aimed at enhancing the ability of government and other actors in the countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) in order to identify, plan and meet the needs of landmine/UXO victims and similarly disabled people.

Old Additions Top

Cambodian Handi-Sport Day and International Day for the Disabled Persons

The Disability Action Council (DAC) and its affiliated members are going to organize the 7th Cambodian Handi-Sport Day and the 19th International Day for the Disabled Persons from 03 to 04 December 2001 at the Old Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Detailed story, please click here.

Strategic Development Planning Workshop

The Disability Action Council (DAC) with the supports provided by United States Agency for International Development / Leahy War Victims Fund (USAID/LWVF) is going to organize and conduct a Strategic Planning Workshop that will be held from 24 to 26 November 2001 in Phnom Penh. This workshop needs to be conducted to scrutinise on current situation and to further develop a Strategic Planning Framework for the 2nd three-year implementing phase. The Strategic Plan will thus form part of the revised funding proposals to USAID as well as proposals to other funding partners. Click here for detailed information.

International Seminar on Social Welfare in Asia and the Pacific Top

The International Seminar on Social Welfare in Asia and the Pacific was held from 13 to 16 November 2001 at Japan College of Social Work, Tokyo, Japan. This seminar brought together representative from 13 countries and a representative from ESCAP. The Disability Action Council (DAC) representative, Mr. Ouk Sisovann, Executive Director, was also invited to participate in this seminar.

It was also honored by the distinguished presence of H.E. Ith Sam Heng, Minister of Social Welfare, Labor, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) of Cambodia who gave the guest lecture as well as Ms. Rituko Nagao, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Japan College of Social Work. For more story, please click here.

Regional Workshop on Victim Assistance

The Regional Workshop on Victim Assistance was organized from 6 to 8 November 2001 at Bangkok, Thailand, with the support provided by Germany, Norway, Switzerland, and Thailand, and coordinated by Handicap International. Participation's delegations were invited from South East Asia Countries including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Delegations from Myanmar and other countries and from International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations were also invited to be the observers of the workshop. For more story, please click here.

National Workshop on Victim Assistance Top

To fulfill its mandate as the only existing national coordinating mechanism on disability and rehabilitation (for services and programs provided to people with disabilities including mine victims), the DAC has been approached to organize a National Workshop on "Victim Assistance", which was conducted from 5 to 6 September 2001 at the National Institute of Public Health (former Pasteur Institute). Please click here for full story

MOSALVY and DAC joint workshop on "Accommodation Needs of Orphaned and Abandoned Children with Disabilities."

The Ministry of Social Affair, Vocational Training, and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) in collaboration with the Disability Action Council (DAC) had organized a two days workshop on "Accommodation Needs of Orphaned and Abandoned Children with Disabilities". This workshop will be held at the National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh from 13 to 14 August 2001. Click here for more information ...

National Strategy for the Accommodation Needs of Children with Disabilities in Cambodia. Top

The DAC - Children with Disabilities (Accommodation) Committee has initiated, facilitated and developed a National Strategy for the Accommodation Needs of Children with Disabilities in Cambodia. The main purpose of this document is to set out a strategy for the accommodation needs of children with disabilities in Cambodia with priority being given to orphaned and abandoned children with disabilities. This strategy has been approved and strongly supported by the Ministry of Social Affair, Vocational Training, and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY).

However, the implementation of this strategy does not apply yet. It is looking for comments, and recommendations from prospective implementation ministries / agencies, stakeholders as well as individual. Therefore, this document will be brought to discuss at a National Workshop on "Accommodation Needs of Orphaned and Abandoned Children with Disabilities", which will be held at the National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, from 13 to 14 August 2001. To view the National Strategy for the Accommodation Needs of Children with Disabilities in Cambodia, please click here ... (DPF file, 79Kb)

The Christoffel Blind Mission International provides medical rehabilitation equipment and financial support to the MOH, Cambodia.

On the 7th August 2001, a ceremony was held in order to hand-over office equipment to the Department of Health Prevention within the Ministry of Health (MOH), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This equipment was donated by the Christoffel Blind Mission (CBM) International via the Disability Action Council (DAC).

The ceremony is presided over by honorable guests H.E. Mam Bun Heng, Secretary of State of MOH; H.E. Ms. Prak Chantha, Secretary of State of MOSALVY and Chairwoman of the DAC; Ms. Helen Pitt, Advisor to DAC; Mr. Ouk Sisovann, Executive Director of the DAC; and Dr. Prak Piseth Raing Sey, Director of Health Prevention Department. Click here for more information ...

New Publications Top

DAC Newsletter Volume 6, Issue 19 for January to June 2002. (PDF File: Khmer Version, (161Kb); Enlish Version, (149Kb))
DAC Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 18 for October to December 2002. (PDF File: Khmer Version, (168Kb); Enlish Version, (156Kb))
DAC Annual Report 2002. (PDF File: Khmer Version (356Kb); English Version , 342Kb))
DAC Annual Report 2001. (PDF file, 548Kb)
"Coutry Paper on Welfare of People with Disability in Cambodia - 2001" for International Seminar on Social Welfare i Asia and the Pacific, Tokyo: 13 to 16 November 2001. (PDF file, 379kb)
National Workshop on Victim Assistacne's Report. Phnom Penh: 05 to 06 September 2001. (MS-Word 2000 file, 465kb; PDF file, 820kb)
DAC Annual Report 2000. (PDF file, 730Kb)
For more archive publications, please click here ...