Empowering Cambodians with disabilities through social protection

When designing a disability inclusive social protection system, it is essential that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard. Although countries have an obligation to actively ensure the participation of persons with disabilities, too often, this participation is symbolic rather than practical.

In an effort to raise the voices of persons with disabilities, ACCESS Cambodia interviewed 12 Cambodian Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) between April and May 2021. The purpose of these interviews was to discuss the challenges that persons with disabilities experience across the lifecycle, as well as to hear their advice on how Cambodia’s social protection system could be made more disability-inclusive. With the Royal Government of Cambodia taking significant steps towards strengthening its social protection system, this policy brief provides insights into OPDs’ thoughts.