MoSA Strengthens the Role of LKSPD to Ensure the Fulfillment the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

MAKASSAR (16 August 2023) – Ministry of Social Affairs partners with Social Welfare Institutions for Persons with Disabilities (LKSPD) in meeting the needs of persons with disabilities.  The role of LKSPD is very strategic, both in implementing social rehabilitation (prevention function) and in counseling tasks.

 On the previous occasion, Minister of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, stated that both as executors, partners, and potential and sources of social welfare, LKSPD needs to receive support, development, and utilization.

 In line with the direction of Minister of Social Affairs, the Director General of Social Protection and Security Robben Rico emphasized the program integration policy at Ministry of Social Affairs to improve coordination and complementarity between programs.  Robben asked LKSPD administrators in 14 provinces to ensure that the complementarity of social assistance provides leverage and benefits to increase income and welfare for beneficiary families.

 “Ensure that persons with disabilities receive respect, protection, and fulfillment of their rights.  Then strengthen the social rehabilitation system that is integrated with social security, social empowerment & social protection for persons with disabilities," Robben said on the sidelines of the "Capacity Building of Social Welfare Institutions for Persons with Disabilities" in Makassar.

 Robben also emphasized that LKSPD administrators who were present when they returned to their regions could immediately take advantage of the Ministry of Social Affairs policies and programs to improve the standard of living of persons with disabilities.

 The chairman of the National Commission on Disabilities (KND) Dante Rigmalia, when met after being a guest speaker, said that she welcomed what was done by Ministry of Social Affairs.  "We appreciate what Ministry of Social Affairs has done for the members of LKSPD so that friends have a good perspective on how to manage their LKSPD and on fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities," she said.

 According to Dante, the biggest challenge for persons with disabilities is societal stigma.  “The stigma against persons with disabilities is still negative, for example, data collection.  When confirmed, the family in question stated that there was none.  "This can happen because the family could be embarrassed and cover it up," she said.

To LKSPD, Dante asked them to accompany and provide assistance to persons with disabilities in fulfilling their life rights.  "Increasing self-capacity to better understand the forms of support needed by persons with disabilities and also advocate more to all parties including the government to be able to improve and increase efforts to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities," she said.

 This role will work well if the intended organization gets space to participate in every stage of development in the framework of inclusiveness.  Apart from that, these crucial functions must be accompanied by increased institutional capacity.

 One of the participants, Roy Martinwadi, admitted that he usually accompanies persons with disabilities in his area so that they can get a better life.  One of the tasks is to collect data on persons with disabilities to be included in Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS). So persons with disabilities can receive social assistance.

 After participating in training activities and listening to input from various sources, this 32-year-old man will form a community group (POKMAS).  With this platform, the man from Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, will strengthen Ministry of Social Affairs' program, namely food assistance program.  "We will have POKMAS to provide food assistance, and secondly get accreditation for LKSPD," he said

 In line with Minister of Social Affairs Regulation Number 1 of 2022 on the Organization and Work Procedures of Ministry of Social Affairs, it mandates that one of the tasks of Ministry of Social Affairs is to increase the organizational management capacity of LKSPD so that it can provide standardized social rehabilitation services to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities.

 Continuous training and mentoring by Ministry of Social Affairs is a key activity in empowering and increasing the capacity of LKS to develop inclusive public participation, influencing policies and direction of social welfare programs for persons with disabilities from local governments and other strategic development actors.