Baghdad: On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ammar al-Hakim, Head of the National State Forces Alliance, stressed the need to make this day an annual occasion for self-reflection and accountability. He pointed to the importance of moving from a logic of pity to a logic of rights, and acknowledging that the problem lies not in the body or senses, but in the barriers erected by the state and society against people with disabilities.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Hakim emphasized the importance of reviewing the budget law through a "disability-aware" lens, item by item, to determine the place of citizens with disabilities in education, health, municipalities, transportation, and culture.

He called for a realistic national program for inclusive education that includes the gradual adaptation of schools, the introduction of a mandatory curriculum on "inclusive education and disability," and then transitioning to the labor market. He stressed that employing a skilled person with a disability is a benefit to the company before it is a social obligation.

Al-Hakim highlighted the necessity of ensuring the presence of standardized ramps and clear pathways, and taking into account the needs of the blind, deaf, and those with mobility impairments in any new project.

He affirmed that the slogan for disability issues today is "Nothing about us without us," and highlighted the importance of the participation of people with disabilities in drafting laws and designing programs and buildings.

The Head of the State Forces Alliance stressed the need for religious discourse to be respectful, encouraging, and trustworthy, instilling the idea that diversity in God's creation is a mercy, and that respecting different people is an act of worship, so that religious discourse becomes a strong ally for the cause of people with disabilities.