(VOVworld) - The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) is being held in the Cambodian city of Siem Riep. Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen is leading the Vietnamese delegation to the event.
Under the theme of “Social development for all”, the meeting focuses on social welfare for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen emphasised that social welfare and development was a global issue, particularly in developing countries including a majority of ASEAN countries. Social welfare and development has been an integral part in ASEAN’s socio-economic development strategy.
"In order to consolidate the ASEAN culture and social community, we need to improve social support from the state to the local levels suitable to the situation of each ASEAN country. All people, particularly the poor, vulnerable groups, people with disabilities, uneducated youngsters, the elderly, migrant workers, and victims of other social issues, are eligible to receive equal social support and essential services for their lives." said Prime Minister Hunsen.
The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development and other meetings discussed two important draft documents: the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection and the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children. Both draft declarations will be submitted to the 23rd ASEAN Summit in Brunei in October 2013 for approval.