News
30 December 2024

Access to Information for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia: Challenges and the Way Forward

By Chea Phal and Bun Phoury

Access to information is a fundamental human right, protected through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Information enables individuals to make informed decisions, participate in public life, and exercise their rights. Yet, for millions of persons with disabilities worldwide, including in Cambodia, accessing essential information remains a formidable challenge. Opportunities for persons with disabilities are often restricted by systemic barriers and gaps in policy implementation, hindering their full participation in society.

A recent project by the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), in collaboration with UNESCO Phnom Penh, highlights the current status of information accessibility for persons with disabilities, explores the ongoing challenges, and provides solutions to improve accessibility for a more inclusive Cambodian society.

The State of Information Accessibility in Cambodia

Accessibility encompasses more than physical barriers; it involves providing information in diverse formats tailored to various disabilities, such as visual, auditory, mobility, or cognitive impairments. For example:

  • Visual impairments: Braille materials, screen readers, and audio descriptions
  • Hearing impairments: Sign language, captioned videos, or written formats
  • Cognitive disabilities: Simplified text and visual aids

In Cambodia, accessibility challenges are especially pronounced among those with multiple disabilities, older adults, people in poverty, low-education groups, rural residents, and indigenous communities. The most accessed information relates to society, culture, healthcare, education, and politics, often disseminated by government agencies, NGOs, and other organisations. However, many formats fail to meet the needs of diverse disability groups. A director of an Organisation for Persons with Disabilities (OPD) in Kampong Chhnang gave a snapshot of the state of information accessibility by persons with disabilities in the province as follows:

“If a person is having difficulty in seeing, we should not give them posters or pictures. Some posters or printed materials are also made without consideration of people who have difficulties seeing colours. If they cannot see or read, they will just keep that printed material out of sight. There is no use for them anyway. There are job opportunities for persons with disabilities, but the moment that information reaches them, the deadline has already passed. Some job descriptions or criteria are set too high for them to apply for. For example, cleaners need to have a grade 12 certificate. We also encourage persons with disabilities to help plant trees and take care of the environment, but they told us that they want rice and food, not trees.”

Key Barriers to Accessibility

1.    Policy Gaps

While Cambodia has made notable progress in disability rights, including ratifying the UNCRPD and developing the National Disability Strategic Plan, specific legislation on information access remains absent. Existing policies are often vague and lack actionable guidelines for government ministries and agencies on how to make information accessible. As a result, persons with disabilities are frequently left without critical information regarding healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

2.    Limited Accessible Technology

Outside urban areas, assistive technologies such as Braille, sign language resources, and digital tools are scarce. Moreover, rural areas suffer from limited internet access and low digital literacy, further marginalising persons with disabilities.

3.    Socio-Cultural Stigma

Persons with disabilities frequently encounter stigma and discrimination, which hinder their motivation and confidence to seek information. Public officials and the general population often lack awareness of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, perpetuating institutional and social barriers. 

Stories from the Ground

·  Difficulty in seeing: Two individuals with difficulty in seeing shared that although they graduated with a degree, their blindness made finding employment nearly impossible, leading to depression. 

“I am blind. Sometimes, some people know it and they pity me, so they help support me. However, some people said that I am blind, so I don’t have to know much information, and rather just stay home instead. In some villages, they even told us that blind people don’t have to make the national identification card because, in the end, there is no use. I believe that such discrimination led me to not know any information about the school for blind people.”

“Mostly, we are discriminated against because we are blind. Only a small number of blind people really have jobs, and those jobs are mainly not concerned with labour skills but their knowledge. For example, when they complete their bachelor's studies, it is rare that they are recruited from both public and private sources. I think those blind people are capable, but because of their blindness, it is very difficult for them to get jobs although they graduate with a degree. This can cause depression as well. I think they believed that they could find jobs when they graduated, but everything turned out to be different; I am sure they are depressed because of it.”

· Difficulty in hearing and speaking: Local authorities often fail to obtain information from victims in cases of injustice, such as sexual violence, due to communication barriers. In some cases, victims are blamed for perceived "karma."

“There are still a lot of injustice cases happening to persons with disabilities who have difficulty in hearing and communicating and/or have intellectual disabilities. Mostly, there are rape cases in my region. However, the local authorities find it difficult to obtain any information or evidence from persons with disabilities. Sometimes, they blame victims for having karma from their past life instead.”

Pathways Forward

Cambodia can foster more inclusive access to information by implementing a multi-pronged approach:

1.    Leveraging Technology

Assistive devices like screen readers, text-to-speech applications, and captioning can bridge accessibility gaps. Inclusive design for government websites and social media platforms can further expand access of information for persons with disabilities.

2.    Strengthening Community Support

NGOs, community groups, and families play vital roles in sharing information, particularly in rural areas. Capacity-building programmes can empower these groups to better support persons with disabilities.

3.    Developing and Reforming Policies and Implementation Capacities

Cambodia must develop inclusive legal frameworks mandating accessible formats and ensuring accountability for public and private sectors. Policies should be accompanied by national guidelines to standardise implementation. Promotion for capacity-building programmes that raise awareness of disability inclusion, information accessibility, and digital and media literacy across national, sub-national, and local levels should be in place.

4.    Tackling Stigma

Public awareness campaigns can challenge discriminatory attitudes and promote a more inclusive society, encouraging persons with disabilities to seek information confidently.

A Call to Action

Achieving inclusive access to information in Cambodia requires collaboration among government, NGOs, communities, and individuals. By addressing policy gaps, strengthening disability inclusion capacity among stakeholders, leveraging technology, and challenging societal stigma, Cambodia can create a more equitable environment where all citizens, regardless of ability, can thrive.

FGD  with Persons Having Difficulty in Seeing

@CDRI Research Team

 





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