Today (Wednesday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II received Heba Hagrass UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at the Papal Residence in Cairo.
Dr. Heba Hagrass expressed her appreciation for the Church’s role in supporting matters related to persons with disabilities, its efforts to raise awareness of their rights, and its work to integrate them into society.
For his part, His Holiness highlighted the great attention given by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the issue of persons with disabilities, noting that it is a state priority and is directly monitored by His Excellency. Pope Tawadros also emphasized that the President’s directives have contributed to increasing interest in this important issue across all sectors.
Dr. Hagrass stressed the need to raise awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities, affirming that religious leaders play a crucial role in achieving this goal. She also presented some statistics that reflect the current situation and help enhance social awareness.
Pope Tawadros emphasized the importance of intensifying awareness efforts on this matter, stating that he will ask the bishops to encourage priests to address this topic in their sermons.
Additionally, the Special Rapporteur proposed developing a curriculum for Sunday schools and theological colleges on how to interact with persons with disabilities. She also suggested highlighting historical Coptic figures with disabilities who made inspiring achievements.
