Our team from the Welfare Rights Centre for people with Disabilities were invited by the Najaf District Council to attend its preparatory meeting to submit a request to the Iraqi Parliament regarding legislation of the Special Needs Bill.
Disability has burdened the lives of people of all ages and professions. The war has seen an increase in babies being born with disabilities, and many others are still being wounded in the fighting- if not already taken ill by disease or malnutrition. Mercy Corps spokesperson Tiana Tozer said "If you take into account that Iraq has been at war since 1977, the Iran-Iraq war, the American bombings, sanctions, all of which have contributed to more people becoming disabled, 2.7 million or 10 percent of the population is a conservative estimate." The Iraqi Ministry of Health has just 21 rehabilitation centres and 12 prosthetic labs, and it is unable to open more due to a lack of doctors and specialists. The government also says that only a quarter of amputees who are in need of artificial limbs have received them as a result of the unavailability of raw materials.
The Najaf Welfare Rights Centre and the Shakiry Charity for Social Solidarity were selected along with dozens of organisations to submit this bill to the Iraqi Parliament. This important request was submitted on behalf of 9 government bodies and civil society organizations. After being selected, the group met with MP Dr. Liqa Al Yasmin. Our request to enact was accepted after the MP contacted the government and forwarded them a copy of the Special Needs Welfare Bill. At the end of the meeting it was decided that a unified committee would be set up with representatives drawn from every province to travel to Baghdad and liaise with members of parliament to push for the new law ito be put in place. Below is a copy of the bill that was sent from the parliament along with a copy of the request which was signed by the group of nine organisations.
Republic of Iraq No: 105
Date: 1/3/2011
Najaf District Council
Office of Affairs for those with Special Needs
To the Iraqi Council of Representatives – Najaf Office
Re: Enforcing the Disabilities Act
Our warmest wishes to you,
We request that the esteemed Council of Representatives consider the necessity of acting swiftly to enforce this Act in accordance with Article 32 of the Iraqi Constitution that stipulates that “the State will look after the disabled and those with special needs and ensure their rehabilitation for the purpose of integrating them into society.”
I would also like to bring to the attention of the distinguished members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives that the previous session of the Council did not enforce the Act due to procrastination. We urge the members of this session to treat this disadvantaged segment of society with the utmost care and concern, and take into account the injustice that has befallen them, by enforcing the Disabilities Act as was done with the Martyrs’ Act and the Political Prisoners’ Act, and by establishing a body to be known as the National Authority for the Welfare of People with Disabilities and Special Needs, which will fall under the auspices of the Council of Ministers and of the new federal, pluralistic and democratic Iraq
May God guide our steps in the service of His servants and the country, and may He guide us to success.
The Special Needs team consists of:
Encs: Disabilities Act Proposal
Email: oosn_n@yahoo.com
