People Living With Disabilities The 2014 Census reported a disability rate of 4.6% of the total population. 581 A 2010 study noted that people with disabilities in Myanmar suffer from widespread discrimination and exclusion within their communities, families, and from society as a whole. Disabled children and women were identified as the most vulnerable. 582 Moreover, Myanmar activists have reported that people living with disabilities are not adequately protected by law and have called for stronger protection for this population, as they are at risk of abuse. 583 There is a severe lack of education for people living with disabilities; a Myanmar Government study reported that almost 50% of disabled people received no education whatsoever. The survey also reported that 85% of disabled people were unemployed. 584 There have been very few employment training programs for people with disabilities, and there is a need for more vocational training and employment, supported by funding. Myanmar acceded to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in December 2011. 585 The Ministry of Social Welfare is the Myanmar Government entity responsible for people with disabilities (PWD) 586. A Disability Rights Law 30/2015, drafted with input from disabilities advocacy organisations, was adopted in June 2015 587. This provides for the creation of a National Committee for Disability Rights with extensive government and NGO participation (but not business). The Committee will address issues such as access to employment, discrimination and vocational training. Tax relief will be available for goods produced by PWDs, and for organizations or private business ‘that employ more than the designated quota of PWDs’. No further details are given about the envisaged quota system, which it appears will be defined by the National Committee. The Law sets out the responsibilities of employers to obey and implement the policy of National Committee for creation of job and training opportunities for PWDs; employ PWDs (including those who are registered at township Labour Offices) in suitable workplace in accordance with the quota system. Where the employer is unable for whatever reason to employ PWDs, they shall contribute to a fund for PWD rights according to a rate to be laid down. The Ministry of Social Welfare is expected to begin work on bye-laws in late 2015. The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), along with the Deaf Resources Centre, has published a bilingual Guide for companies wishing to integrate people with disabilities into their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, increase the level and quality of employment for people with disabilities, and contribute to the improvement of products and services for people with disabilities.588 581 The report listed four types of disability: walking, seeing, hearing, intellectual/mental. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, “2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census, Census Report Volume 2-A“ (May 2015). 582 Salai Vanni Bawi, “Understanding the Challenges of Disability in Myanmar” (2012). 583 Myanmar Times, “Activists call for stronger laws to protect Myanmar’s disabled” (21 January 2013). 584 The Irrawaddy, “In Burma, Children with Disabilities Struggle to Access Schools” (5 November 2013). 585 United Nations Treaty Collection. 586 Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare. 587 http://www.pyithuhluttaw.gov.mm/?q=download/file/fid/5478 only availability in Burmese 588 MCRB and Deaf Resources Centre “Corporate Social Responsibility and Disability (CSR-D)“ (Aug 2014). CHAPTER 4.8: GROUPS AT RISK 231 4 4.8