Third Quarterly Meeting of the Provincial Disability Action Council to Review Key Achievements and Action Plan

On 15 September 2022, the Disability Action Council-Secretariat General (DAC-SG), Provincial Disability Action Councils (Pro-DAC) of Battambang, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) organised the third quarterly meeting of Pro-DACs to discuss the achievements of the year 2022 and determine future directions in disability inclusion in the Battambang province through the support of the Australia-Cambodia Cooperation for Equitable Sustainable Services (ACCESS) Program.

The meeting aimed to discuss the Pro-DAC’s accomplishments from January to August 2022, review and finalise the action plan for September to December 2022, and review and finalise the action plan for 2023.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Secretary General of DAC-SG, the Deputy Governor of Battambang Province and Chairperson of Battambang Provincial DAC, members of Battambang Provincial DAC, staff of DAC-SG, UNDP colleagues, relevant development partners, and the ACCESS Program team.

H.E Chhay Matinal, Chairperson of Battambang Pro-DAC and Deputy Governor of Battambang Province, in his opening remarks highlighted the results achieved from January to September 2022 in Battambang. This included the provision of training on physical accessibility infrastructure, disability identification, service provision at the physical rehabilitation centre, provision of emergency items to poor persons with disabilities, and facilitation of COVID-19 vaccination for persons with disabilities.

Dr Ros Chhay, Senior Program Manager at the Australian Embassy to Cambodia, appreciated the key achievements accomplished by Battambang Pro-DAC, including regular meetings with the team, planning and implementation of action plans, training on and dissemination of materials on disability inclusion and physical accessibility, facilitation of the social protection program, including the inclusion of needs of persons with disabilities in the commune investment program, and other activities that benefit persons with disabilities.

UNDP is one of the implementing partners of the ACCESS Program, supported by the Australian Government. With ACCESS’ support, UNDP is working to promote disability inclusion, protect the rights of persons with disabilities.