Amman, April 30th 2014, The Regional Initiative for Adult Education Advocacy launched the Global Action Week for the Year 2014 under the title: “Inclusive Education – Equal Rights and Opportunities”. The Launch was held on April 30th, 2014 in Amman, sponsored by the Middle East Network on Innovative Teaching and Learning “MENIT”.
The Regional Initiative for Adult Education Advocacy consists of DVV International and four Arab regional networks involved in adult education and lifelong learning.

The launch included discussion of the role of adult education institutes and programs in creating a learning environment that empowers persons with disabilities in various aspects of life. The discussion was led by five panelists who are experts in the different fields of adult education, disability and human rights. The panelists were: Dr. Mohannad Al Azzah , an expert in international human rights law, Dr. Iqbal Al Samalouti, secretary general of the Arab Network for Literacy and Adult Education, Mr. Rifat Sabah, head of Arab Campaign for Education for All, Mr. Nizar Basalat , consultant for the Palestinian General Union of People with Disabilities, and Mr. Waheed Jobran , coordinator of the Middle East Network on Innovative Teaching and Learning (MENIT).

Within the Global Action Week’s framework, the regional initiative announced its position paper, which demonstrates the current reality of people with disabilities in Arab societies and the major challenges they face. In addition to that, the regional initiative called out for local, regional and international institutions, individuals with or without disabilities, educators and human rights activists to lobby decision makers to create, activate and enforce legislative frameworks and laws to include persons with disabilities in work and education on an equal rights basis. Moreover, the position paper strongly underlined the importance of promoting supportive educational culture that should enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their participation in various development processes. 

“We have to commit to the convention of the rights of persons with disabilities as the legitimate reference, especially that it was ratified by most Arab states. The convention obliges states to base all levels of education on provision, accessibility and acceptability”. Commented Dr. Mohannad Al Azze, the Jordanian Senate and expert in international human rights law.

In turn, Secretary General of the Arab Network for Literacy and Adult Education Dr. Iqbal Al Samaloty said, “the biggest challenge that people with disabilities face in most societies is the negative attitudes and social patterns that consider people with disabilities non-qualified and incapable at all levels. Adult education programs play a major part in strengthening the roles of people with disabilities and in promoting supportive educational values that will enhance their involvement in different development processes”.
It is worth mentioning that the Regional Initiative for Adult Education Advocacy is an initiative supported by the Middle East Network on Innovative Teaching and Learning “MENIT” of the German Society for International Cooperation “GIZ”. The initiative is a cooperation between DVV International, the Arab Network for Literacy and Adult Education based in Cairo, the Arab Network for Popular Education based in Lebanon, the Arab Campaign for Education for All based in Palestine and the Arab Network for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (ANHRE) based in Jordan. The initiative aims at uniting efforts and cooperating to enhance inclusive adult education through advocacy, quality assurance and innovation