A new mechanism to protect “people of determination” from obstacles to enjoying a safe life

The Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi revealed that the policy for protecting people of determination, which it launched last week, includes a mechanism to protect them from any obstacles that hinder their ability to enjoy a safe life.

The department explained that this mechanism enhances protection services for people of determination in a way that is compatible with their needs, starting with raising awareness, prevention, and early detection of cases of abuse, exploitation, neglect, or discrimination based on disability or suspected cases, and building specialized cadres and institutional capabilities in the emirate, all the way to conducting evaluation. Providing and implementing the necessary interventions.

Regarding the policy of protecting people of determination, the department confirmed to “Emirates Today” its keenness to raise awareness of people of determination about their right to protection from abuse, exploitation, and discrimination on the basis of disability, and to enable them to obtain it, raise the level of awareness, and change societal thought to a disability perspective. In addition to clarifying, unifying and activating an organized and comprehensive mechanism for prevention and early detection, and receiving cases of abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination to which they may be exposed, stressing that the policy of protecting people of People of Determination, which it launched last week, provides protection for this group from obstacles that hinder their ability to enjoy a safe life.

The department indicated that people of determination are more exposed to abuse, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination, due to the challenges that limit their ability to enjoy life on an equal basis with others, which are represented by the lack of some mechanisms to protect them from abuse, exploitation, neglect, discrimination based on disability, and lack of experience. Some cadres fail to meet the needs of people of determination, and do not provide information in accessible formats to make them fully aware of their rights.

The department pointed out that the rest of the challenges include the failure to provide tools and platforms to facilitate people of determination’s access to complaint channels or protection measures and services, and the limited classification of data on abuse, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination based on disability, which results in a lack of monitoring of cases, in addition to a lack of community awareness about How to deal with people with disabilities based on a social disability perspective that is compatible with human rights.

On the sidelines of the launch ceremony of the People of Determination Policy in Abu Dhabi, which was recently organized by the Department, Eng. Hamad Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Department of Community Development, confirmed that the Department stressed the importance of empowering and protecting the groups most vulnerable to challenges.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Department’s Community Development Sector, Dr. Laila Al-Hayas, stated that the launch of the policy to protect people of determination comes as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts towards enhancing their rights and providing opportunities that allow them to integrate into all aspects of life, by removing obstacles and motivating them to achieve their fullest potential, stressing the importance of Change begins with society itself, and educating individuals and institutions to adopt practices that guarantee equality and respect for all segments of society.