Jakarta - Ministry of Social Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting persons with disabilities in Indonesia. This commitment is shown in the core value of “Setara Berkarya” (Equal in Production/Work), highlighted through the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (HDI) celebration.

“We are launching the *Setara Berkarya* tagline. Yesterday, we witnessed an orchestral performance - a collaboration between persons with disabilities and non-disabled individuals —and, in many cases, it exceeded the abilities of non-disabled participants,” said Secretary-General of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Robben Rico, during the *Festival Setara dan Berdaya* at the Media Indonesia office in Jakarta, Wednesday (11/12/2024), speaking on behalf of Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf.

On that occasion, Robben emphasized that showcasing collaborations between persons with and without disabilities helps the public easily grasp the concept of equal opportunities in the creative sphere. This collaboration underscores how each person has strengths and weaknesses, which, when combined, complement one another.

In addition to such events as the HDI 2024 celebration, the Ministry of Social Affairs is committed to achieving equality for persons with disabilities by ensuring accurate data collection. This guarantees that the programs provided truly meet their needs.

“Following Law No. 8 of 2016, we have agreed to collect data on persons with disabilities so we can tailor the Ministry’s programs to them as a form of equality,” Robben said.

He added that when Ministry of Social Affairs programs are easily accessible to persons with disabilities, it demonstrates equality in action. The degree of accessibility they have to these programs is a key indicator of how accurately these initiatives are targeted.

Furthermore, the Ministry also seeks to foster inclusive work environments for persons with disabilities.

“The equality we strive for is that government institutions, state-owned enterprises (BUMN), and regional-owned enterprises (BUMD) should facilitate 2% of their workforce for persons with disabilities, while the private sector should allocate 1%. That is our goal,” said Robben.

Echoing similar issues, CEO of Media Group, Mohammad Mirdal Akib, said that the essence of equality lies in how much an individual can contribute to society.

“Whether someone has a disability or not, the most relevant measure is the benefit they provide. If we fail to bring any benefit, then perhaps we are the ones who are ‘disabled,” said Mirdal.

One of the Commissioners of the National Disability Commission, Rahmita Maun Harahap, who was also present, stated that moments like this are crucial to creating an inclusive and sustainable future for persons with disabilities.

“It’s not just about providing space but ensuring that every individual has the same opportunities,” Rahmita said.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno noted that all elements of society must collaborate to realize equality for persons with disabilities.

“Concern for this issue should not be exclusive to the government; it is everyone’s responsibility. Equality is at the core of our humanity,” said Pratikno. (*)