Ministry, HCD launch national plan to boost public accessibility for people with disabilities

AMMAN — The Ministry of Public Works and Housing, in cooperation with the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), on Monday launched a 10-year national action plan to improve buildings and public utilities’ accessibility.

Under the patronage of Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, the 10-year plan was launched to apply provisions of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities passed in 2017, as well as implement the Special Buildings Code Law’s requirements related to people with disabilities (PWD).

During the ceremony, Razzaz stressed that the government ranks PWD rights and issues as one of its highest priorities, which was reflected by Jordan’s endorsement of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This plan is one of the government’s most important long-term national plans as it addresses issues such as removing environmental obstacles hindering PWD’s access to public facilities, he said.

HRH Prince Mired, president of the HCD, stressed the need for concerted efforts to implement the plan, urging the involvement of PWD and their organisations in implementing and following up the national plan. 

Minister of Public Works and Housing Falah Omoush said that the ministry was applying the best international practices and technologies to rehabilitate the public buildings and facilitate their use.

The Special Buildings Code Law, which obligates entities to ensure accessible building designs for PWD, went into force in 1993 under the Law for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.

The law states that all public buildings and spaces should incorporate modifications to render them accessible to PWD.

The law supports the key basis of the national plan, which calls for the integration of PWD into mainstream society by guaranteeing their rights to education, employment, rehabilitation and medical treatment.