Faisalabad: December 9, 2013. (PCP) On 3 December 2013 the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with the Beacon Foundation for Visually Impaired persons (BFVP) and the Society of Disabled People for Rights and Development (SDPRD) organized a public forum at Faisalabad. More than 80 persons with disabilities along their families, human rights and disability rights activists, media personnel and government officials were present at the event. In the public forum, a documentary was showed to the participants which was composed by AWAM. There is no law in Pakistan that protect the rights of 15% population of persons with disabilities. A new law is required to protect and include persons with disabilities in the society for appropriate participation. The inclusion and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities must be ensured by focusing on promoting accessibility and removing all types of barriers in the society, this was demanded by the speakers of the public forum entitled "Breaking Barriers and Opening Doors for Creation of an Inclusive Society" to mark the international day of persons with disabilities. Speaking on the occasion, the executive secretary of the AWAM, Naseem Anthony said, “Persons with disabilities are the important members of our society, this invisible group is neglected by government also. It is the responsibility of the government to organize awareness raising campaigns, establish training centers, provide education and health facilities to persons with disabilities. Every citizen pays tax to the government so it is the duty of government to provide accessible environment to persons with disabilities for their inclusion and empowerment." "The government must introduce new laws in accordance with international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities to ensure their protection," he demanded. The president of the Beacon Foundation, Rana Yasir Nadeem said, “Persons with disabilities have to face negative behavior and attitudes of society. The inclusion and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities must be ensured by focusing on promoting accessibility and removing all types of barriers in the society, value diversity and integration. Government is responsible to launch new schemes and programs for the inclusion and betterment of persons with disabilities to make them more confident and social." The coordinator of the AWAM, Shazia George said, “Negative attitudes and inaccessible environment restrict persons with disabilities especially women with disabilities within the four walls of house. The patriarchal society does not allow women with disabilities to make progress and come out from their houses. Even this attitude make hostile environment for them at home, society and at government level also." "The government must ensure accessibility of PWDs at all public buildings by providing ramps and lifts to ensure their accessibility on roads, parks, shopping malls, schools and universities, and also provide them the dignified employment and life style," she demanded. The medical social officer (MSO) of social welfare Zahida Naz said, "Persons with disabilities are not different from the persons without disabilities but the lack of opportunities and the existence of barriers make things difficult for them. "The gaps and lacunas are big hurdles to lessen the ordeals of PWDs facing during disability registration process." There must be a responsible institution to deal with the PWDs issues because three department are doing work together to complete the registration process but no single institution is there to take decision. There should be one-window operation for disability registration. The district officer of the social welfare department, Waheeda Iftikhar said, “The persons with disabilities facing problems from their families, society and also from the government's side which becomes the hurdles in the way of their success. All the citizens have to play their vital role collectively and individually as well. The civil society and government need to encourage and enable them to stand on their own feet for playing their useful role in the society.” The executive director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “The existing of a law is not enough and law is considered dead without implementation. It is the duty of government to implement the law in its true sense. The population of persons with disabilities has increased more than 10% but the existing quota is 2% only, which is insufficient for them. "The quota for PWDs must be increased and a monitoring mechanism must be introduced to stop the exploitation against them," she demanded.