IIMSAM official Dr. Naseer Homoud urged for bringing Persons with Disabilities to mainstream while observing International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Online, December 3, 2009 (Newswire.com) - While marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dr. Naseer Homoud Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council while addressing the media said "IIMSAM joins in the celebrations of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities underlining the fundamental pillar that the right to work can be helpful in empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring to live independent and dignified lives as active members of the society".

While reaffirming IIMSAM commitments to work on better life conditions for disabled persons Dr. Homoud contended "it is evident that worldwide, persons with disabilities are yet prone to discrimination, stigmatization, social exclusion and violation of their rights. This UN Convention is satisfying an imperative protection gap in international human rights law as it recognizes disability as a human rights issue and not only as welfare issues". While commending efforts of UN in promoting and ensuring rights for disabled persons Dr. Homoud lauded the sincere and honest efforts of the UN and comprehended that United Nations has a long history of promoting the rights and well-being of all people, including persons with disabilities.

Dr. Homoud further contended that to ensure better life for persons with disabilities it is important that efforts should be channelized for securing employment opportunities for disabled persons. He pointed out that Article 27 of the convention recognizes the rights of persons with disabilities to work and employment on an equal basis with others but notwithstanding this fact almost in most countries up to 80 per cent of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed. This situation is much catastrophic and governments must ensure that disabled persons should be employed accordingly so that they are included in mainstream society. Employment for disabled persons is a catalyst to shed their nervousness". Dr. Homoud added. He insisted that all agencies working in the arena should come out with revised and unified welfare plans for all such persons across the world with concrete mechanism to deal with all emergent crises pertaining to the them like physical abuses, violation of their basic fundamental rights, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, epidemic, and food shortage, social discrimination among others.

While pointing IIMSAM's agenda under leadership of His Excellency Ambassador Remigio M. Maradona Director General of the IIMSAM on the matter Dr. Homoud said that IIMSAM is working on ensuing better life conditions for person with disabilities through various strategies. Dr. Homoud while giving call to governments for supporting IIMSAM said "we are leaving no stones unturned to eradicate hunger and malnutrition by using Spirulina and it is known that persons with disabilities are more prone to malnutrition and hunger and often their disabilities are directly attributed to malnutrition. IIMSAM is committed to accomplish its mandates and to ensure a world free of hunger and malnutrition thus extending its wings to persons with disabilities. We are committed to work for better life conditions for persons with disabilities and on the same hand we are also dedicated to take care of our young generation that they do not fell prey to disabilities just because of malnutrition.