ARC, on behalf of the Child Advocacy Network of Disability Organisations (CAN DO) has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Care Society to develop a child-friendly version of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Dhivehi language. Through this MOU, CAN DO also hopes to raise awareness on the rights of children with disabilities, combat stereotypes and prejudices, promote awareness of the capabilities of persons with disabilities and protect children with disabilities as prescribed in the Convention.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Zenysha Zaki, Executive Director of ARC highlighted the importance of conducting rights-based awareness sessions for school children and persons with disabilities. She also stated that the main impetus behind the establishment of the Child Advocacy Network of Disability organizations is to create a platform for sharing best practices, to cooperate and coordinate training programmes and for capacity building among the member organizations.

The project by Care Society formalized today, is supported by funds raised through the CAN DO Community Challenge 2014, a fundraising initiative conducted last year in which funds were raised through public contributions. This is among several projects that will be funded by last year’s Community Challenge, one of which has already been conducted jointly by the Beautiful Eyes Down Syndrome Association and Maldives Autism Association, to train teachers specializing on children with special needs.