Yale Daily News

On Friday, The Salus Populi Foundation hosted a panel discussion titled “Building Inclusive Societies in Post Conflict Context: Cambodia and Timor-Leste.” 

The event, held at Luce Hall, featured Jackson School World Fellows Sokny Onn and Fausto Belo Ximenes, who discussed their work promoting social inclusion for people with disabilities in post-conflict societies.

Onn, who also serves as the vice-chair of creative industries at the Cambodia Association for Development and Advocacy, spoke on the role of art and culture in Cambodia in empowering those with disabilities. Having contracted polio in 1980, Onn now uses a crutch to walk on her right leg.

“Art is a way to express our pain and our issues,” Onn explained, “and I do believe I transform when I do art.”

As Country Director for Epic Arts, a nonprofit organization, Onn drew on her insights from leading an organization supporting people with disabilities in Cambodia. Throughout the talk, she reiterated that art helps see those with disabilities in a new light and emphasized the importance of art in advocacy. 

Onn highlighted the necessity of considering those with disabilities when writing policy, instead of adding disabled people as an afterthought. She called to “create an environment for all of us, not just one person.”

“We want to be a part of society. We want to party and make friends. Ask for our names before asking what’s wrong with your leg,” Onn said.

Ximenes has worked with the United Nations Development Programme in East Timor. Recently, he advocated for government policies to include those with disabilities.

He emphasized the importance of grassroots efforts and the necessity of individual change within these efforts. 

“We can’t create and implement possibilities that are inclusive if we don’t change the way we regard people,” Ximenes said. 

Ximenes urged younger audience members to keep those with disabilities in mind when writing policy. 

Suren Clark ’28, an attendee and member of Salus Populi’s first-year fellowship, said he was “surprised how backlogged we are in creating an equal world.” 

“It’s amazing to have World Fellows with a wealth of experience come and speak about what policymaking and advocacy in developing countries is like,” said Michael Yao ’27, the education director of the Salus Populi Foundation. 

Following the talk, attendees viewed a visual art segment from Onn’s advocacy. 

Luce Hall is located at 34 Hillhouse Ave.