DILI (TOP) – The President of the Republic José Manuel Ramos-Horta has kept his promise to include disabled people in his presidential cabinet.
During the campaign period, Ramos-Horta always voiced for no discrimination against people with disabilities in this country.
According to him, people with disabilities are also human beings who have the same rights as other human beings. Therefore, the state must treat every citizen equally.
According to data from the Timor-Leste Eye Disability Association, it shows that there are around 38,118 people with disabilities in Timor-Leste.
Director of the Timor-Leste Eye Disability Association Gaspar Afonso will start working as an advisor to the President of the Republic on social matters on 1 June 2022.
“I will start working as a principal advisor in social affairs on June 1 in the presidential cabinet. This is the first time for disabled people to hold this important position in the president's office,” Gaspar told reporters after meeting with the president of the republic.
He explained that the constitution of RDTL in Article 21 concerning Citizens with Disabilities. Number one states that every disabled citizen has the right to enjoy the same rights and is subject to the same obligations as other citizens, except for rights and obligations that cannot be carried out because of his disability. And secondly, within the limits of its capabilities, the State develops protection for disabled citizens, based on the law.
Likewise in article 16 concerning universality and equality that all citizens are equal before the law, have the same rights and obligations and no one can be discriminated against because of skin colour, race, gender, ethnic origin, social or economic position, political or ideological beliefs. , religion, education, physical or mental condition.
“I and some friends will come to work at the presidential palace in the social sector. Our job is also to represent our friends with disabilities in our country.”
