Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy has underlined that the global understanding of empowering persons with special needs has undergone a fundamental transformation, shifting from a focus on assistance and protection to one centred on capacity-building, opportunity creation, and inclusion.
“The concept no longer revolves around providing aid or social protection, but rather around enabling persons with disabilities to become active, productive participants in society,” said Morsy, who also chairs the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs.
Her remarks came as she inaugurated the Third edition of the Living Independently Initiative for Persons with Disabilities and the Arab Exhibition for Productive Families. The event, organised by the Arab League on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, brought together several Arab ministers of social affairs.
Morsy affirmed that, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Egypt accords high priority to integrating persons with disabilities across all spheres of life, particularly the economic domain. She noted that Law No. 10 of 2018 provides a comprehensive framework to transform rights into sustainable, actionable measures.
Through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and its partners, the government has translated the law’s provisions into concrete results. To date, over 1.3 million Integrated Services Cards have been issued, enabling persons with special needs to access health, social and educational services through 222 rehabilitation offices nationwide.
The minister highlighted the “We Will Reach You” campaign, which delivers services to vulnerable groups in rural and remote areas, engaging more than 5,000 trained volunteers. She also pointed to progress in inclusive education, with 220 inclusive nurseries now providing early learning opportunities for children with disabilities.
Morsy said Egypt’s approach focuses on economic empowerment through innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Ministry of Social Solidarity has launched new initiatives to help the disabled persons set up small ventures through training, microfinance, and technical and marketing assistance, in partnership with the private sector and civil society organisations.
