Monday: 13 March 2011:
Statement of HH Sheikh Saif at 5th International Conference for Special Needs
Lieutenant - General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior affirmed that citizens had always been the focus of attention of the founder of our country late Sheikh Zayed. Our leaders then followed this example, and thank God we are still harvesting the goodness he has planted for us.
Our father explained for us that the inspiring leader is the one who finds, by his wisdom and intelligence, the innovative idea which people may accept and are convinced to work together in order to achieve. He found that there was nothing better than providing goodness, nor nobler than delivery of support for the needy. President His Highness and his honest Crown Prince followed the same footsteps and humanitarian values. He continued offering support to all the segments of the society, including those with special needs.
Sheikh Saif pointed out the sincere government endeavors and efforts being exerted by His Highness UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to provide all means of honorable living for the people with special needs in terms of training, qualification and recruitment.
Sheikh Saif continued: the journey of goodness and offering in the UAE has continued to achieve the comprehensive social development in which everybody takes part, and has created a productive role for our brothers and sisters of special needs. Various rehabilitation programs have been prepared for them so that they become productive members in the society like other healthy ones. He indicated that the government is fully committed to recruit 3% of persons with special needs.
He reaffirmed that disability is not a barrier against creatively and production, and that offering hand to people with special needs is humane, national and religions obligation, rather than merely showing sympathy to them. He indicated that Centers of the Ministry of Interior for Qualifying and Recruiting those with special needs were established in 2002 to symbolize the humane vision of our higher leadership. Around 457 trainees have joined theses programs, 183 of whom were recruited at the ministry of interior. The rest were recruited in coordination with government, semi government and private bodies.
We believe fully in our ethical duties towards people with special needs who were deprived of physical or mental soundness. Nevertheless they were not deprived of the strong will and insight to learn and work. Therefore, we are ethically committed to provide good living for them, diversify the humanitarian assistance and create new methods in the delivery of this assistance.
He concluded that, “I take advantage of this good opportunity to call on all sectors and establishments in the country to open their doors and provide training and recruitment to our sisters and brothers of special needs. I also urge them to give them the chance to take part in production out of respecting their capabilities and talents, not out of showing sympathy to them, so that they are able to contribute to the building of this nation.