KHALEEJ TIMES, Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022 | Jamada Al-Aakhirah 8, 1443
New law ensures inclusive education, job opportunities for people with disabilities
Emirates: A new law issued in Dubai aims to protect the rights of people
with disabilities and ensure their inclusion and integration into society. The
law also seeks to include people of determination in the process of drafting
policies and legislations that concern them or may affect their quality of life.
This came as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, issued the law in his capacity as
Ruler of Dubai.
The law sets forth the rights of people with disabilities and the services that
relevant entities should provide them. These include inclusive education at
every stage, rehabilitation, inclusive job opportunities in all sectors, and
healthcare, therapeutic and social services. They should also be able to access
all services such as those pertaining to worship, police and legal.
Relevant entities should also offer people with disabilities access to data and
information through various platforms and inform them about their legal rights.
The law also seeks to ensure people with disabilities can access banking
services and participate in various sports and entertainment programmes, among
others.
New committee
The law creates the ‘Higher Committee to Protect the Rights of People of
Determination’. The Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai will issue a
decision on the formation of the committee, which will include people of
determination and representatives of relevant entities.
The committee is tasked with supervising all affairs concerning people of
determination in Dubai, and implementing policies, plans and initiatives aimed
at protecting their rights.
The committee is also tasked with proposing legislations for protecting the
rights of people with disabilities and integrating them into society.
Violations and fines
The law defines the actions that violate the rights of people of determination.
It tasks the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai with developing a
system to allow people with disabilities and their guardians to report any
violations of their rights.
According to the law, a person with a disability, his or her guardian, or anyone
who witnesses a violation, should report the incident to relevant authorities.
The CDA is tasked with issuing identification cards for people with disabilities
registered in Dubai. The cards will help people with disabilities access
facilities and services allocated to them.
Violators of the new law and the decisions issued after will be subject to fines
listed in the Executive Regulations. Fines will be doubled in case an offence is
repeated within a year of the first, with a maximum of Dh100,000.
The Dubai Statistics Centre is tasked with creating a database of people with
disabilities in Dubai, which will be used as a reference by decision makers for
strategic planning and government policy development.
The law annuls any other legislation that may contradict it. The newly issued
Law is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.