STATEMENT BY MS WONG KUAN YING, DIRECTOR (DISABILITY DIVISION), MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, AT THE 6TH CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 9 JUNE 2015

Mr Chairman,

          Thank you for giving me the floor and for your able leadership of this Conference. 

          This year’s Conference takes place at a critical time as member states are expected to adopt an ambitious and transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda.  If the new development agenda is truly to “leave no one behind”, the rights of persons with disabilities must be taken into account.  We welcome the attention given to persons with disabilities in the Sustainable Development Goals.  We hope that they will be duly incorporated into the Post-2015 Development Agenda.  During this Conference, Singapore is also co-organising a Forum on Disability and Development with UNDESA and a number of interested countries on 11 June 2015 to encourage further discussions on issues related to accessible and inclusive urban development.   We are co-sponsoring the side event on “women with disabilities” with the Republic of Korea, UNDESA and UN Women today.  All are welcome.

          To achieve a truly inclusive society, governments need to take a holistic approach on disabilities issues.  In Singapore, the Enabling Masterplan continues to provide the overarching framework to achieve our vision of becoming an inclusive society where persons with disabilities are fully integrated and can realise their full potential. 

          Having a Masterplan is only the first step; we also established the necessary support systems to implement it.  The Open Door Programme, subsidises the costs employers incur to recruit, train and undertake job accommodations for employees with disabilities. To encourage companies to employ persons with disabilities, workfare and employment credit schemes were extended to persons with disabilities and their employers, regardless of age, and have benefitted thousands.

            To improve accessibility for commuters with mobility challenges, the government has set aside US$3 million in grants to help transport companies defray the cost of purchasing and retrofitting new vans or buses.  All public buses are targeted to be wheelchair accessible by 2020. There is also a continuum of transport subsidies and options to further facilitate travel for persons with disabilities.

We have further improved access to information and communication.  This includes the mandatory provision of hearing enhancement systems for persons with hearing disabilities in auditoriums and concert halls.  To aid those with visual impairment, our building codes require the use of Braille and tactile information.  To enhance the affordability of assistive technology and promote its adoption, the scope of our government-funded Assistive Technology Fund will be expanded to cover persons with disabilities at all ages for all purposes from August 2015. 

Mr Chairman,

          Singapore has adopted a pragmatic and outcome-based approach to build an inclusive society for persons with disabilities and to fulfill our obligations under the Convention.  We are in the midst of preparing our first report for submission to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and look forward to a fruitful dialogue with the Committee on disabilities issues in Singapore.  Thank you.

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