On the occasion of Disability day, the Lebanese Parliament held its first session for Mine victims on Thursday 14 December 2017. The session was brought forth by the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) at the Lebanese Armed Forces in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lebanon.
“Support should be provided to establish the first regional demining school, equipped with necessary training courses,” said Mrs. Randa Berri, representing non-governmental organizations providing assistance to mine victims, during her opening statement.
“Mine action and mine victims’ assistance is a key pillar and an integral part in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development. You [addressing the mine victims] demonstrate resilience despite obstacles you face,” addressed UNDP Country Director, Mrs. Celine Moyroud.
LMAC Director, Brigadier-General Ziad Nasr stated: “The LMAC stands by mine victims through supporting this cause. People with special needs, like other, have the right to equality.”
“The law should be compromised of feasible decrees and practical mechanisms that would provide people with disabilities, their rights. The hardships of people with disabilities still persist,” addressed H.E. Dr. Michel Moussa, representing the Head of the Parliament, H.E. Mr. Nabih Berri.
“The state needs to value each citizen as a precious resource and recognize that each person has a legitimate role to contribute to the development of a society where every person’s rights are respected,” stated Mrs. Francesca Varlese, the European Union representative.
The Parliament session was concluded with a ‘question and answer session’ amongst the mine victims and the members of Parliament and government representatives, where mine victims raised their questions and concerns related to their rights of employment in public and private sectors, easy access of disabled persons to public institutions. They stressed on the importance of having awareness campaign for the public at large on how to deal with the needs of disabled persons.