Kuala Lumpur, 20 May 2009 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has teamed up with SEGI University College to raise the profile of disability issues in Malaysia through a creative design competition for its students.

The initiative is part of a national advocacy and awareness campaign being led by UNDP, themed, “Real Lives, Real Abilities” to fight attitudinal prejudices and to galvanize public support for the need to ensure full equality of the rights of disabled persons and to support their full participation in all aspects of society.

The campaign is being supported by two UNDP projects which are currently being implemented with the support of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD), and the State Planning Units of Johor and Penang. The projects aim to reduce barriers that disabled persons face in finding and retaining employment and accessing public transportation respectively, with the long-term objective of increasing their economic and social independence.

The three-part competition challenges students to design mascots to represent positive examples of disabled persons in Malaysia, a poster to reflect the theme of the campaign and computer wallpaper.  The winners of the competition are due to be announced at the official launch of the campaign in late July, which will be attended by senior officials from government, as well as representatives from disabled persons organizations, academia, media and civil society.

Commenting on the partnership, James George, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative (Programme) said that the organisation welcomed opportunities to engage youth on development issues.

“Young people have immense potential as positive and refreshing agents of change. We hope to encourage young people to take ownership and interest in the development agenda and the decisions affecting their lives,” he said.

George said that it was important that the youth understand the link between poverty and disability.

“There is a strong, complex and particular relationship between poverty and disability. Situations of poverty can cause disability and disability can cause poverty. They reinforce one another. Income is just one aspect of poverty.  It is just as crucially about social relations and includes issues of ownership, control, participation and access. “

The United Nations estimates that one person in 20 has a disability and about 80 per cent of disabled persons live in developing countries. In most societies, disabled persons are among the poorest of the poor. In developing countries, 8 to 9 out of 10 disabled persons of working age are unemployed. 

“Disabled persons are among those who are most likely to have their socioeconomic and political rights denied. If disabled persons are denied their right to basic education, for example, this limits their opportunities throughout life, and restricts their public participation, thereby curtailing their ability to influence policies which affect them,” George added. 

For more information on the competition rules and regulatons, please download the announcement poster (3.5 mbs) and competition form.

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ABOUT UNDP: UNDP is the UN's global network to help people meet their development needs and build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working as a trusted partner with governments, civil society and the private sector to help them build their own solutions to global and national development challenges. Further information can be found at www.undp.org.my

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