Dr. Iman Karim Highlights Media’s Role in Empowering Individuals with Disabilities

Dr. Iman Karim Honored.

Dr. Iman Karim, the General Supervisor of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, attended the opening session of the third edition of the Egica Forum, organized by the Faculty of Media at Cairo University. The event focused on “State Institutions and Their Efforts in Empowering Women, Children, and Individuals with Disabilities.”.

The event was also attended by Dr. Mahmoud El-Said, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Cairo University, Dr. Wissam Nasr, Dean of the Faculty of Media and Forum President, and Dr. Sahar Mustafa, Professor in the Department of Journalism and Digital Media and General Coordinator of the conference, along with numerous officials, experts, and representatives from national and international organizations concerned with empowerment and inclusion issues.

In her keynote address, Dr. Iman Karim emphasized that media serves as a strategic partner and a key tool in supporting the state’s efforts to achieve comprehensive social inclusion for individuals with disabilities. She stated that building proper societal awareness begins with presenting a fair and balanced image that reflects the true capabilities of individuals with disabilities, distancing from stereotypes and misconceptions.

Dr. Karim explained that the National Council for Persons with Disabilities continuously works to strengthen partnerships with media institutions, academic entities, and civil society organizations to promote a culture of inclusion and establish principles of equality and equal opportunities in line with the National Human Rights Strategy and Egypt’s vision for a more inclusive and sustainable society.

She noted that collaboration between the council and Cairo University exemplifies effective institutional partnership, extending across various initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities. Dr. Karim highlighted that the council places significant emphasis on correcting public perceptions about individuals with disabilities in different media outlets, believing that real change begins with awareness and that media has the power to foster a positive transformation in societal views regarding disability issues by showcasing inspiring success stories.

Additionally, she mentioned that the council is working to raise awareness about legislation governing the rights of individuals with disabilities while informing citizens about available services and mechanisms to support them. The council also welcomes complaints and inquiries through designated channels to ensure social protection and rights for this demographic.

During the opening session, Dr. Wissam Nasr honored Dr. Iman Karim for her outstanding contributions to supporting individuals with disabilities and her active role in promoting inclusion issues while raising awareness about disability rights on both community and institutional levels.

In response to her recognition, Dr. Iman Karim expressed her gratitude for the honor, affirming that supporting disability issues is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation among all national institutions, media outlets, and academic bodies. She praised Cairo University’s Faculty of Media for creating spaces for scientific dialogue on priority societal issues.

The Egica Forum 3 is held under the patronage of Dr. Mohamed Sami Abd El-Sadiq, President of Cairo University, supervised by Dr. Mahmoud El-Said during June 7th-8th. The forum aims to discuss representations of women, children, and individuals with disabilities in the Arab world as well as media’s role in supporting diversity and empowerment while addressing stereotypes.