BZU Center for Development SBZU Center for Development Studies Announces Results of Disabled Persons Studies - News

On 25 July 2011 the BZU Center for Development Studies (CDS)
in collaboration with the Palestinian Center for Women's Research held a
workshop to announce the results of two studies on the status and challenges
faced by disabled persons in Palestinian society. The workshop was attended by
Minister of Social Affairs Majeda Al-Masri, Director of the Palestinian Central
Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) Ola Awad, and Director of the Palestinian Center
for Women's Research and Documentation Zahira Kamal.

In her opening address, the Director of the CDS, Samia
Butmeh, stressed that these two studies are the outcome of intensive work in
the field of disability studies, and that the main objective of the studies is
to provide community-based policy approaches to influence decision-makers, and
urge them to provide a better environment for people with disabilities.

The Minister of Social Affairs applauded the Center’s
efforts and its work in research and development, and commended the focus of
gender issues in these studies. She added: "These studies by the CDS
and the Palestinian Center for Women's Research and Documentation are
milestones for policy makers and specialists in the field of disability.
Despite the large percentage of disabled persons in the Palestinian
territories, there is a lack of adequate information on the necessary
needs for disabled people in Palestine. These studies will contribute to
the provision of appropriate solutions."

The Director of the Palestinian Center for Women's Research
and Documentation, Zahira Kamal, believes that the two studies will contribute
to bridging the gap in the field of disability, since the legal framework is
insufficient, and the prevailing attitudes in society include a sense of
sympathy, while ignoring the fact that persons with disabilities are
individuals with particular capacities.

The Director of PCBS referred to the need to adopt a
national strategy and activate the relevant laws, and called upon the concerned
national institutions to make use of PCBS’s survey to construct policies that
will contribute to the integration and participation of disabled persons in
society.