First Lady oversees the Launch of Activities Commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Today, Thursday, the First Lady, Dr. Mariam Mohamed Fadel Dah, oversaw the launch of the activities commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the International Conference Palace ‘Mokhtar Ould Daddah,’ under the theme: ‘Inclusion is a Right… Empowerment is a Responsibility.’

These activities are organized to emphasize the need to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life and to ensure their rights to education, work, and essential services.

The First Lady’s supervision of this edition reflects the great attention she gives to people with disabilities, her constant commitment to supporting programs aimed at empowering them, consolidating their rights, and promoting their participation in public life.

 

In her speech on the occasion, First Lady Dr. Mariam Fadel Al-Dah expressed her happiness at the participation of this group in the activities of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which witnessed the signing of a number of partnerships among various government sectors, enhancing social work directed towards this group, and reinforcing the principle that empowering people of determination is the responsibility of the entire society.

She added that the measures being taken today come in support of the significant efforts exerted by the state to empower this group at various levels, affirming that society can only thrive by embracing all its members, providing them with equal opportunities and enabling them to perform their roles in the best possible way.

The First Lady reiterated her support for all governmental and community efforts aimed at empowering people with special needs, considering that this support is not a temporary duty, but a national and humanitarian commitment that she carries out with full conviction and responsibility.

She called for doubling efforts, and expanding and diversifying partnerships aimed at advocating for people with special needs, ensuring the strengthening of their role within society.

She congratulated people of determination and their honorable families, highlighting that this International Day represents an important occasion to celebrate the strong will they demonstrate in overcoming obstacles, and the determination capable of creating change.

She said that she had closely followed the stories of people of determination and witnessed their efforts and patience in facing the challenges of daily life, noting that these challenges, along with the immense suffering they entail, are met with even greater hope and unwavering resolve, which further strengthens her commitment to stand by them, work with them, and work for them.

At the conclusion of her speech, the First Lady thanked the government and all civil society actors and development partners for their significant contributions, appreciating the private sector’s swift response in contributing to the Training and Employment Support Fund to support people of determination.

Her Excellency, the Minister of Social Work, Childhood, and Family, Mrs. Safia bint Intaha, said that our country has achieved significant gains in social inclusion in recent years, including the adoption of the National Disability Strategy, the integration of the disability dimension in the 2024 general census, increasing public spending allocated to this group, expanding specialized education, providing mobility equipment, issuing disability cards for more than 18,000 people, in addition to providing health insurance and cash transfers for thousands of families and children with disabilities.

The Minister added that the presence of the First Lady reflects ongoing support for this group, announcing a package of new projects and agreements with a financial allocation of approximately 1,899,000,000 old Ouguiya, which includes a partnership with “Taazur,” the launch of the Excellence Award for People with Disabilities, new project financing, expansion of training centers, and the launch of cash transfers benefiting 6,000 children with disabilities.

 

 

Her Excellency the Minister valued the support of government sectors, technical and financial partners, and the national federation of associations working in the field of disability, emphasizing that the achievements represent a true shift towards an inclusive society based on equality and justice.

She reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to continue implementing the national inclusion strategy, enhancing social protection, facilitating access to services, and involving persons with disabilities in planning and implementation, under the slogan: ‘Inclusion is a right… and empowerment is a responsibility.’

 

 

For his part, the President of the Mauritanian Federation of National Associations for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Lahbous Ould Al-Aid, said that commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities represents an important occasion to reaffirm the need to promote social inclusion and uphold the rights of this group, praising the government’s efforts in recent years to improve access to services and expand social protection programs.

He added that the federation continues its work as a key partner in implementing national policies related to disability, by supporting field programs and representing persons with disabilities in national discussions and strategies, emphasizing that strengthening the partnership between the state, civil society, and international partners is a cornerstone for achieving an inclusive and just society.

He also stressed the necessity of fostering a culture of respect for diversity and acceptance of others, and of working together to empower persons with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities.

 

In turn, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mauritania, Mr. Florian Raidl, said that commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities serves as a reminder of a fundamental truth: that the value of a society is measured by its ability to provide a fair and accessible place for everyone. He explained that today’s celebration reflects a strong national will to move towards an inclusive Mauritania, where persons with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as other citizens, which is a prerequisite for social cohesion and stability.

His Excellency the Ambassador renewed Germany’s commitment, along with its partners from UN agencies, to continue supporting policies and programs that promote social protection and ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life.

 

 

For his part, the UNICEF representative in Mauritania, Mr. Kabir Madragi Al-Alawi, emphasized that adopting the national strategy for inclusion and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities represents a historic shift reflecting a strong political will to make inclusion a pillar of development. He pointed out that cash transfer programs targeting thousands of families are not merely temporary support, but a mechanism to remove barriers that children and families face in accessing health, education, and care services.

He stressed that disability is not the problem, but the obstacles that limit the rights of persons with disabilities, calling for their active participation in policy-making to become a steady path, and for strengthening partnerships to ensure an inclusive society that excludes no one.

 

The events were distinguished by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Social Work, Childhood and Family and the General Delegation for National Solidarity and the Fight Against Exclusion “Ta’azar,” to strengthen their partnership in implementing programs aimed at people with disabilities.

The ceremony also included presentations and segments dedicated to highlighting national experiences in the field of inclusion and empowerment, and showcasing efforts aimed at supporting the participation of this group in various social and economic fields.

The ceremony was attended by the minister in charge of the General Secretariat of the Government, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports, and Civil Service, the Minister of Education and Educational Reform, the Minister of Public Service and Labor, the General Delegate for National Solidarity and the Fight Against Exclusion, the Assistant Governor of Western Nouakchott, and the Mayor of Tevragh Zeina, along with administrative and security authorities in Western Nouakchott, and a number of senior officials and representatives of national and international organizations.