Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Commemoration of International Day of People with Disability 2020 (Held Virtually), Thursday, 3 December 2020 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

May peace be upon us all,

Om Swastiastu,

Namo Buddhaya,

Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Professor Ma’ruf Amin;

Distinguished Chairmen and Heads of State Institutions;

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet;

Distinguished representatives of friendly countries and international institutions;

Distinguished people with disabilities;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

The International Day of People with Disability commemoration this year must be manifested as a momentum to emphasize our concern and strengthen solidarity in creating a strong foundation for the protection of persons with disabilities, from a caritative and charity-based paradigm to a human right-based paradigm.

We want to continuously improve equality, opportunity and accessibility for persons with disabilities, ensure access to education, access to health and access to jobs for persons with disabilities, as well as build infrastructure that is accessible to create a barrier-free environment for disabilities.

I have signed numerous Government Regulations. In 2019, there was a Government Regulation on the Implementation of Social Welfare for Persons with Disabilities and a Government Regulation on Planning, Implementation and Evaluation of Respect, Protection and Fulfillment of Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In 2020, I have signed four Government Regulations, namely the Government Regulation on Proper Accommodation for Students with Disabilities; Government Regulation on Proper Accommodation in the Judicial Process; Government Regulation on Accessibility to Settlements, Public Services, and Protection from Disasters for Persons with Disabilities; and Government Regulation on the Disability Service Unit of Manpower.

In addition, I have also signed two Presidential Regulations, namely the Presidential Regulation on the Requirements and Procedures for Giving Awards for the Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Presidential Regulation Number 68 of 2020 on the National Commission for Disabilities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are already quite a few regulations that had been issued and if it is really needed, I am ready to issue more regulations. But the key is not only in regulation. A good regulation and a good plan is useless without serious execution. The key is in implementation. Again, the key is implementation. Our next task is to ensure that all policies can be carried out well, executed properly, and the persons with disabilities can enjoy the benefit.

The National Commission for Disabilities has a very strategic role. As a non-structural institution that is independent and directly responsible to the President, I hope that the presence of the Commission will be an important milestone to accelerate the implementation of our grand vision for people with disabilities. There should be no single person with disabilities left behind from various service programs provided by the Government. All ministries, agencies and local governments must actively support, starting from the need to synchronize data on persons with disabilities nationally, to involve persons with disabilities in the National Action Plans and Regional Action Plans, and to oversee the implementation, so that all action plans can run effectively and truly benefit persons with disabilities.

That concludes my remarks.

Thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Om Santi Santi Santi Om.

Translated by Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by Lulu Wuliarti