Resident Coordinator’s Remarks at the International Symposium on Digital Inclusion National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC)

I am honored to address you on digital inclusion as we accelerate SDGs to leave no one behind.

I would like to thank the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) for providing the UN with the platform to reinforce the rights of persons with disabilities.

We are at the halfway point to the 2030 Agenda, but SDG progress has been slowed globally and even regressed.

Thailand has bucked this trend with nearly half of the indicators on track, which has secured the country the top ranking within ASEAN.

As we know, SDGs are interrelated and lack of progress in one can have knock-on effect on others.

This is especially true for goals on poverty, education, decent work, inequalities, and health, which explicitly target persons with disabilities to further their well-being and not leave them behind.

The government is showing leadership on the 2030 Agenda as we saw at the recent SDG and Climate Action Summits in New York.

The Prime Minister reiterated Thailand’s ambition to act on climate while also creating green jobs, alleviating intergenerational poverty, and extending the reach of universal health coverage to the most vulnerable.

This is the pathway to a sustainable and inclusive nation.

To achieve this, the country has adopted a whole-of-government approach to promoting the rights of people living with disabilities.

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security leads a multipronged strategy prioritizing social protection, education, and health provision, amongst others.

For social protection, the government provides a monthly allowance to people with disabilities.

These allowances were increased during the pandemic, providing an important safety net.

World Bank analysis shows that social transfers like this help protect the most vulnerable from falling into the poverty trap.

This is important because only a third of people with disabilities are employed with most of them working in the informal economy.

It is also critical that we deepen partnerships with the private sector to step up employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

As you may know, the Persons with Disabilities Empowerment Act requires businesses to hire one person with disabilities for every 100 employees or contribute to the Empowerment Fund, which is an important policy tool to leave no one behind.

The second priority is to mainstream people with disabilities into regular education to acquire the necessary skillsets for the labor market.

This will allow businesses to access the yet untapped talent pool, resulting in a more diverse labor force, generating economic benefits and reducing the burden on social services.

The government’s third priority is ensuring that people with disabilities are covered by health insurance and can access inclusive health promotion services.

While these health services are well covered, some needs remain unmet. These include broader access to medical treatments, rehabilitation services, prosthetics, and assistive devices.

The equal importance of raising awareness of the needs of people with disabilities, NBTC can play a key role in this.

You have the tools to support the government in front-lining persons with disabilities into the SDGs in alignment with the BCG economy.  

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, which is why we need a whole-of-society approach to boosting inclusion and creating equal opportunities.

We can leverage technology and digitization to enhance service delivery, foster innovation and tap into the creative potentials of people with disabilities.

The UN is lending support to these aims leveraging its soft power and communication assets to secure a million eyeballs nationwide in partnership with the private sector to enhance the well-being of people with disabilities.

ILO is strengthening the employability of young persons with disabilities through technical skills training, career guidance and job placements.

FAO is supporting farmers with disabilities to run organic vegetable farms based on internet of things.

UNHCR is providing psychosocial services in refugee camps while UNDRR is incorporating the needs of people with disabilities into disaster preparedness and responses.

UNFPA is supporting 8,000 youth to advocate for the sexual and reproductive rights of persons with disabilities.

Thailand has made progress on these critical issues, but we have a long way to go until all people with disabilities gain their rightful place in work, education, and society.

This symposium can take us closer to that goal by bringing experts, policymakers, and stakeholders together for advancing this further.

Thank you.