Festival for disabled opens with emphasis on equality

The Kingdom is dedicated to serve all segments of society equally, including people with disabilities, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar said during the inauguration of a cultural festival for the disabled at the King Fahd Cultural Center here on Monday. 

Prince Faisal toured the pavilions at the festival venue with other dignitaries, including Shoura Council member Nasser Al-Mousa and Saudi Blind Society director Mohammed Al-Shuwaiman. 
The dignitaries highlighted the contributions made by the late Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Baz, former Grand Mufti, and other living legends like Prince Waleed bin Talal, Prince Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Kabeer, Sheikh Hamad bin Saedan and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim to the cause of the disabled.
Al-Mousa praised the country’s efforts toward people with disabilities and the material and moral support given to this segment of society.
Al-Baz said the event has provided a platform to the disabled to display their talents and skills. He also thanked all those who who helped the organizers in making the event a grand success. 
The audience was entertained with a play dubbed ‘Two in One,’ which was directed by artist Khaled Al-Harbi and members of the Theater Club at the King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah acting in it. 
During the current eighth session of the conference of states that are parties to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) held at the UN headquarters in June last year, the Kingdom confirmed its national commitment to the development of systems that will ensure and protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Ahmad bin Saleh Al-Saif, member of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and supervisor of the Unit of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, hailed the Kingdom’s efforts and progress in implementing the provisions of the CPRD.
“No society can be complete without guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities and ensuring their equal participation in economic, social, political and cultural aspects of society,” he said. 
He said the Kingdom has taken concrete steps to promote the rights of persons with disabilities since the adoption of the CPRD in 2008, including the establishment of a specialized committee at the Ministry of Social Affairs consisting of members of government agencies, civil society organizations and people with disabilities to coordinate and oversee implementation of all human rights, services and activities for the disabled.