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Regional News

Regional News: January-March 2004

Technical Aid for Persons with Visual Impairments (Asian and Oceanian)
13 January-14 March 2004
JICA, Japan

"Technical Aid for Persons with Visual Impairments (Asian and Oceanian)" was held at the Japan Vocational Development Center for the Blind, Inc. in Japan from 13 January14 March 2004. This course was targeted for managers and trainers of educational institutions and rehabilitation facilities for persons with visual impairments, including representatives of organizations of/for persons with visual impairments; to understand the difficulties and problems faced by persons with visual impairments when accessing information, acquire knowledge of supportive technology and universal design, obtain knowledge necessary to plan, establish, operate, maintain, and control a supportive technology system; to formulate a practical plan of action to spread and promote information accessibility and communication technology among persons with visual impairments and their instructors in one's own country.

Disability Groups Win Their First Pacific Human Rights Awards
25 February 2004
DPI, Vanuatu

APCD representatives at the Presentation Ceremony of the Pacific Human Rights Award to the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association, Vanuatu

Disability organizations won 2 of 6 awards for the first time in the history of the Pacific Human Rights Awards. The Fiji Disabled People's Association (FDPA) won first prize under the Fiji category while Disability Promotions and Advocacy of Vanuatu was the first runner-up in the Regional category. The prize money offered each year by the Regional Rights Resource Team, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project, totaled US$ 4,172.

The FDPA picked up the award for "demonstrating exemplary initiative in promoting and advancing the human rights of people living with disabilities in Fiji" and for "outstanding work in empowering people with disabilities to participate in decision-making", for its effort in mainstreaming disability issues and empowering people with disabilities.

DPA Vanuatu won the award for "demonstrating exemplary initiative in promoting and advancing the human rights of people with disabilities in Vanuatu".

On behalf of APCD, congratulations to all organizations that received the 4th Pacific Human Rights Awards in both the Regional and Fiji categories. Keep up the good work!
(Source: www.dpi.org and the Pacific Disability Forum)

Working Group of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
5-16 January 2004
United Nations, New York, USA.

After the second meeting in June 2003, the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities decided to establish a Working Group to prepare and present a draft text of a convention as a basis for negotiation by Member States. It was also decided that after "the Working Group met for one session of 10 working days at the United Nations Headquarters in New York early in 2004, they would present the outcome of their draft text to the Ad Hoc Committee at its 3rd session."

Capacity-Building Training/Seminar for People with Disabilities in Asia-Pacific Region (CBTS)
13-17 February 2004
Kathmandu, Nepal

Country's representatives and resource persons at the CBTS, Kathmandu, Nepal

A Capacity-Building Training Seminar (CBTS) for PWDs in the Asia-Pacific Region with the theme, "Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for PWDs" was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 13-17 February 2004. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sponsored the Seminar organized by Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPIAP) and supported by DPI Nepal. The purpose was to provide participants from Asia and the Pacific countries with an opportunity to strengthen individual and organizational capacities in order to promote and achieve equality and full participation for persons with disabilities with an emphasis on their integration as implementers and community development workers in relevant national development efforts.

Participants were able to acquire a) knowledge and skills for people with disabilities in countries without national Disabled Peoples' Organizations (DPOs), to establish their own national cross-disability, self-help organizations, and enable them to strengthen their groups with national PWDs organizations, b) information to enhance the capacities of DPOs and to enable integration of their needs and concerns in national development efforts, c) knowledge and skills for disabled leaders and community developers enabling them to be involved in the national development process as implementers of the UN World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons and to implement the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (BMF), and d) to further the knowledge and skills of technicians and employees with disabilities who are already rendering services toward the development of their countries.

Twenty-seven participants from 27 countries of the Asia-Pacific Region consisted of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, the Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam also attended the seminar.

The 2^nd International Seminar on Disability
12-15 March 2004
Lahore, Pakistan

Representatives from Pakistan's NGOs and the Duskin Ainowa APCD News Foundation at the Seminar in Lahore, Pakistan

The Milestone Society for Special Persons, the LIFE Independent Living Center, Disabled Peoples' International Pakistan and the Asia and Pacific Network for Independent Living organized a 2nd International Seminar on Disability from 12-15 March 2004 in Lahore, Pakistan with co-supporters of the City of Lahore and Duskin Ainowa Foundation. The purpose was to understand disability and empower persons with disabilities in Pakistan, by learning the differences between the Japanese and Pakistani Disability Movements, examining the needs of PWDs, establishing a collaborative relationship between PWDs and government officials, being aware of the disability issues in the community, and exchanging knowledge on disability issues and the Independent Living Movement in Pakistan and Japan.

The 20^th Anniversary Pacific Rim Conference on Disability
29-30 March 2004
Hawaii, USA.

Since the 1st Pacific Rim Conference in 1985, the scope and size of this event has grown with targeted countries 20comprised of Australia, Japan, Pacific Island Nations, the Philippines, mainland USA, etc. The 20^th Anniversary Pacific Rim Conference on Disability (PacRim 2004) brought 20together PWDs, family members, researchers, professionals, and students from various fields, such as health, education, social services, etc. Presenters represented a variety of disciplines including health, medicine, social science, and the disability field. This year's theme was "Promises to Keep, Futures to Seek concerning opportunities created for PWDs.

The PacRim 2004 conference focused on topics of importance and current trends to the Pacific Rim area from building communities to valuing diversity and support for all persons. It included the Lifelong Inclusion in Education and Community; Technology Across the Ages; Parent Partnerships and Family Supporters; Employment and Adult Services; and Body, Mind, and Spirit.

Seminar/Exhibition on the Information Technology Project under the Initiatives of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
12-13 February 2004
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand

This seminar aimed to show respect on the occasion of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's 48th Birthday Anniversary and acknowledge the success of the Information Technology Project for Disadvantaged and Marginalized Groups. Events in the seminar/exhibition consisted of exchanging information and experience between academic scholars, the project committee, and representatives of related organizations to the project. This also provided an opportunity to present, promote and exhibit the progress of implementations related to the project and assistive device technologies.

DUSKIN Follow-up Seminar
15-19 February 2004
Twin Tower Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

This intensive seminar was part of the follow-up activities for ex-Duskin Trainees who have contributed in the disability field in their countries. It provided participants with the opportunity to learn methods of practical project-making based on community needs. The program included making presentations of their activities and analyzing problems confronted in their communities. The goal was to enable them to create more efficient and practical projects utilizing local resources. This seminar was organized by the Secretariat of Duskin Leadership Training in Japan under the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD).

There were 10 participants with disabilities whom were ex-Duskin trainees from 10 countries comprised of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Ms. Ormporn Nitthayasuthi, APCD Project Manager, was pleased to give the opening speech. She hopes there will be collaboration between APCD and ex-Duskin trainees in the future since they could be our potential resource persons to work towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Regional News: Upcoming Events

Workshop on Disability Statistics and Measurement
24-28 May 2004
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand

"Workshop on Disability Statistics and Measurement" organized by UNESCAP, the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to promote capacity building in disability measurement in the Region. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) will be used as a framework for the training, focusing on data collection issues where participants will carry out pilot testing of disability questions and prepare national training materials during the project.

The 60th Commission Session
22-28 April 2004
Shanghai, China

The 60th session of the UNESCAP is scheduled to be held at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, China from 22-28 April 2004.

The 10th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People: "Universal Transportation and Road Design: Strategies for Success"
23-26 May 2004
Hamamatsu, Japan

This conference, under the general auspices of the Transportation Research Board, is to promote considerable progress in improving the lives of people with physical disabilities. Since the last conference held in Warsaw, Poland with 200 participants from 29 countries and 5 continents, progress has been made to improve the lives of people who are visually, cognitively, and hearing impaired. This is the first time the conference will be held in the Asia and Pacific Region aiming to serve as a forum to introduce new strategies for implementing economically sustainable accessible transportation and encourage continued research in this area.

The 3rd Session of the Ad Hoc Committee
24 May-4 June 2004
United Nations, New York, USA.

The Ad Hoc Committee decided to establish a Working Group with the aim of preparing and presenting a draft text of a Convention at its 2nd session from 16-25 June 2003. This Working Group met in New York from 5-16 January 2004. The General Assembly decided in Resolution 58/246, the Working Group will present its draft text to the 3rd Session of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Asia-Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) Executive Committee Meeting
14 June 2004
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand

United Nations Regional Coordination Mechanism: 8th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-Related Concerns
15-16 June 2004
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand

8th International Congress on Including Children and Youth with Disabilities in the Community
14-18 June 2004
Stavanger, Norway

This Congress will focus on building self-determination and self-reliance at the local level for children and adults of all abilities. The theme is "Towards Full Citizenship". Organizers are hoping that country teams will represent a) children or adults with a disability and/or a family member, b) providers of services (health, education, social services), c) policymakers, d) disability or human rights advocates, and e) community-level representatives to promote inclusion at the community level.