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An estimated 5.9 million people in Myanmar or 12.8% of the population, are living with disabilities (Myanmar Inter-Census Survey 2019). This figure is expected to increase due to an aging population, growing incidence of diseases, worsening armed conflicts as a consequence of political unrest, and constraints on healthcare linked to both the global pandemic and political turmoil.

Disability rights have become more visible in the country in recent years; Myanmar ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2011; it has a National Strategy for the Development of Persons with Disabilities and, in 2015, passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities.

But this law is not fully implemented; the voices of people with disabilities are still not often heard, and their rights not recognised.

Our Tu Tu Pae ("We are one and the same") project provides information on the rights and health of people with disabilities, so that they know their rights and can better access healthcare, while shifting public attitudes and behaviour towards people with disabilities.

From December 2021 to June 2022, we produced 101 pieces of digital content focusing on all aspects of disability: disability services information, dealing with different types of disabilities, accessing assistive devices, health information and early prevention of disabilities, as well as tackling the social norms that are still wrongly associated with people with disabilities. We worked with partner organisations for people with disabilities, developing story ideas and training them in the production of digital content on their Facebook pages.

In August 2022 the project will enter its second phase, running until June 2023, with a focus on producing digital content with high-quality accessibility features, and further training for organisations for people with disabilities. We will continue to shape Tu Tu Pae as a reputable and trusted brand, with a broader focus on health and rights for people with disabilities.

Project information