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Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for Decade of People with Disabilities: Orientation to APCD

12 December 2003, Bangkok, Thailand

H.E. Mr. Sora-at Klinpratoom, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Royal Thai Government delivered the inaugural speech emphasizing the importance of APCD in facilitating inter-regional cooperation between the Asia-Pacific and African Regions to empower persons with disabilities (PWD) and build a barrier-free society. Ms. Thelma Kay, Chief, Emerging Social Issues Division, UNESCAP, reaffirmed 7 priority areas of the Biwako Millennium Framework towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free, and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (BMF) as well as the African and Arab Decades of Disabled Persons.

Representatives from 10 developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region exchanged information with delegates from 9 African countries on the Decades of Persons with Disabilities.

The BMF emphasizes inter-regional collaboration, especially regarding the African Decade of Disabled Persons 2000-2009. JICA held a training course for National Organizations of Persons with Disabilities from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zambia. UNESCAP Social Affairs Officer, Ms. Kay Nagata spoke about the UN involvement with the two Regional Decades. Keynote speaker, Mr. Sundar Vadan, Commissioner for Disabled Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh, India emphasized that collaboration between the Government and NGO Sectors created the most effective, productive and harmonious project for community-based development with persons with disabilities, especially for the development of self-help groups as well as community-based rehabilitation. The population of the province of Andhra Pradesh is approximately 65 million which is similar to the population of other countries such as Thailand.

The World Bank is developing a community-based poverty alleviation program in Andhra Pradesh Province. Mr. Vadan encouraged Government representatives from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam, to focus on the community for empowerment of PWD along with poverty alleviation. The African delegates were impressed by the community-based approach as well as the participation and collaboration of the Government and NGOs.

H.E. Mr. Abdullah Wardak, Minister of Ministry of Martyrs & Disabled, Government of Afghanistan, Chairman of the session, stated that international collaboration and cooperation on disability issues is necessary for the most productive and effective results. Each Government representative reported on their Government policy, development and movement on disability concerns.

Vietnamese delegate, Mr. Nghiem Xuan Tue, Director of the National Coordination Committee on Disability in Viet Nam, shared that comprehensive inter-ministerial coordination with NGO participants is a necessary and effective Government organizational function. For this reason, the Government can collaborate with other Ministries and NGO sectors for specific programs.

APCD exchanged the Memorandum of Meeting with Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. APCD also discussed a tentative APCD mission plan for 2004 with each delegate. These Government delegates will be liaisons for APCD's future missions.