STATEMENT BY MS MUSTAFA NAZHATH FATIMA, DIRECTOR (DISABILITY DIVISION), MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, AT THE 10th CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, 13-15 JUNE 2017

Mr Chair,

1                  Thank you for giving me the floor. Singapore is honoured to participate in the tenth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

2                  As a state party to the CRPD, Singapore ensures that our overall national policies for persons with disabilities are in line with our commitments under the Convention and the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme for this year’s Conference on inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities aptly reflects the spirit of the Convention and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

3                  Singapore’s policies and initiatives have been anchored by our national roadmap, the Enabling Masterplan, which has been reviewed every five years since 2007. The government has adopted a collaborative approach with stakeholders and the wider community in the implementation of the Convention. Persons with disabilities, their caregivers, their representative organisations and employers were involved in developing these Masterplans. In 2016, we embarked on our Third Enabling Masterplan with the objective of fostering a more caring and inclusive society where persons with disabilities are empowered to achieve their fullest potential and participate fully as integral and contributing members of society.

4                  The Masterplan comprehensively maps out strategies and goals across various areas, including early intervention, education, employment, adult care, and the participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community. We continue to build on existing support structures and systems to realise the outcomes of the Enabling Masterplans. This includes the Standing Committee on Disabilities to ensure effective coordination across government agencies; the setting up of a dedicated agency, SG Enable, in 2013 to support persons with disabilities seeking employment and training opportunities, access to disability schemes as well as the provision of information services and referrals to disability support services.

5                  We recognize that employment provides an avenue for persons with disabilities to lead an independent life and to be active members of their community. SG Enable has enhanced employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, as demonstrated by the 70% increase since 2014 in the number of persons with disabilities benefitting from job-seeking and support schemes.  Infrastructure and the built environment have also been further enhanced to enable ease of access. Of note, we have enhanced our support to persons with disabilities to enable them to use assistive technology devices to overcome challenges they may face at work, education and daily living. Employers who promote inclusive workplaces are recognised by the government for their efforts. 

6                  Moving around Singapore has been made easier for persons with mobility challenges. All mass rapid transit train stations and bus interchanges are now barrier-free and all public buses will be wheelchair-accessible by 2020. There is also a slew of transport subsidies and options to facilitate travel for persons with disabilities. In addition, we have also introduced guidelines and initiatives to encourage inclusive universal designs for barrier-free access in the physical environment. In fact, the Singapore delegation will be sharing our experiences in improving accessibility and inclusion at the Forum on Advancing Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development  For All organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs on 14 June. 

7                  To provide persons with disabilities with greater access to information, Singapore has ratified the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, with the treaty entering into force in September 2016. Amendments have also been made to Singapore’s Copyright Act to facilitate greater access to copyrighted works for people with reading disabilities.

8                  Our para-athletes did us proud at the recent Rio Paralympics 2016 which saw Singapore’s largest contingent of paralympians participating to date and breaking 2 world records in swimming. The athletes’ outstanding achievements were recognised in the Singapore Parliament and a celebratory parade was held across the island.

Mr Chair,

9                  Singapore has made significant progress in building an inclusive society, and enhancing the well-being of persons with disabilities in line with our ongoing efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and its goals. In the coming years, we will be working with the community to promote even more inclusive practices, whether in education, employment or society at large. As we do so, we have not forgotten the many caregivers who support persons with disabilities and we will be embarking on building a support network for caregivers and leveraging technology for better service delivery to persons with disabilities and their families. These initiatives will further strengthen the ecosystem of support for persons with disabilities and their families in Singapore.  We look forward to a fruitful dialogue at this Conference on inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities. Thank you.

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