LOCATION Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center, Phnom Penh

SPEAKER Andrew Mace

EVENT Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics Annual Graduation Ceremony

DATE 10/09/2009

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Graduating Students:

It is my pleasure to be here today to participate for my first time in the annual graduation ceremony at the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics representing the British Government.

The Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK government has supported the Cambodia Trust on various projects for a number of years and the British Government fully supports the Cambodia Trust’s vision of equal rights for persons with disabilities in an inclusive, barrier-free society. We are currently in the middle of a 5-year grant from DFID to CSPO, to facilitate the localisation of its activities.

In June of this year I had my first opportunity to visit Cambodia Trust and CSPO’s premises to observe first-hand the valuable work that goes on there.  It was wonderful to meet students, some of which are graduating today, and to see their motivation for helping persons with disabilities.  As you all know, the work they are undertaking is desperately needed in Cambodia, as well as in other low-income countries.   I was particularly encouraged to see such diversity represented at the school: so many international students, so many female students, and a number of students with disabilities.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate H.E. Ith Sam Heng (Minister of Social Services, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation) on the passing into law of disability legislation earlier in 2009. This is a major achievement and demonstrates the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to persons with disabilities.   It is a strong step towards the goal of the UN Convention on Disability – to ensure the full rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities.  We hope that Cambodia will continue to work towards the goal of full ratification and implementation of the Convention.

The Cambodia Trust is doing exactly what they set out to do:  build local capacity, so that Cambodians are helping Cambodians. It is impressive to see that Cambodia is developing world-class expertise in this area, and is sharing this with other low income countries by providing internationally accredited education to students from more than 10 countries from as far away as Iraq and Papua New Guinea.

Today CSPO is graduating students as qualified Prosthetist/Orthotists as well as nine with Bachelor degrees in Prosthetics and Orthotics. It is my pleasure to congratulate each and every one of you on behalf of the UK Government.  You and your skills are much-needed, and the recognition you receive today is well-deserved.

Thank you for your attention.

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