2nd Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for the Decade of People with Disabilities: An Orientation to APCD
The UNESCAP/APCD Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for the Decade of People with Disabilities: an Orientation to APCD was organized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center (APCD) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), at the United Nations Conference Center, Bangkok on 17 August 2004.
Overview of the Seminar
The objectives of the Seminar were to establish and strengthen a collaborative relationship with APCD by enhancing an understanding of APCD and the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012); to gain insights to develop the new Decade by sharing experiences and achievements through the past Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002) among invited representatives from the Asia-Pacific region and delegates from the South Africa and Arab regions.
The Seminar was opened by Mr. Sakhon Boonkhum, Director-General, Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection, and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. He stated that the Royal Thai Government placed importance on the promotion of the rights, opportunities, and equalities of persons with disabilities with a high priority on regional cooperation towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities and a barrier-free society for persons with disabilities in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
Representatives from the African Group
Mr. Uriate, Jr., Principal Officer and Officer-in-Charge of UNESCAP welcomed all delegates and felt the Seminar was timely, since the Governments in the Asian and Pacific region have proclaimed an extension of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons for another 10 years from 2003 to 2012, and the adoption of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities (BMF) in October 2002.
Mr. Mikiharu Sato, Resident Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), extended his congratulations to all for organizing the Seminar, which promotes the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, particularly in the area of establishing a barrier-free and rights-based society in the Asia-Pacific region.
Fifteen government delegates from Bhutan, the Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, and Viet Nam joined the Seminar. Additional representatives from 10 South African countries, non-governmental organizations and other organizations involved with disability issues and resource persons from Lebanon and Thailand participated.
Seminar focus
The Seminar focused on the following issues:
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Introduction to the APCD
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Introduction to the Disability Program of UNESCAP
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Sharing experiences/achievements through Decades of Disabled Persons in the Asia-Pacific and Towards the Elaboration of an International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The presentation by Mr. Monthian Buntan, President of the Thailand Association of the Blind, on his experiences/achievements gained through the Decade was appreciated. He shared some positive views on policy and legislative changes; the formation and strengthening of self-help organizations of persons with disabilities; public awareness; and networking and collaboration. Mr. Monthian also expressed the need for further reconsideration and re-thinking of the following: the diverse characteristics, needs and problems of persons with disabilities; the dimension and emphasis on accessibility; rights-based versus charity-based, including the civil rights disability movement versus economic empowerment; expansion of "ideological extremism"; education and employment; and recognition of disability issues by politicians and policy makers.
APCD Team with representatives from Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon
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Sharing experiences/achievements through the Decade of Disabled Persons in the African Region. Statements by Representatives of the African Group, who shared their views on the African Decade of Disabled Persons (2000-2009) were appreciated. The Decade was declared as a result of the initiatives of persons with disabilities in Africa, who received moral support from different international organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as United Nations Organizations.
Objectives of the African Decade are:
- Poverty alleviation and reduction among persons with disabilities and their families through economic support and education
- Capacity-building among organizations of persons with disabilities at various levels.
- Advocacy and lobbying for policies and legislation
- Support women, youth, children, and marginalized persons with disabilities
- Networking and partnership building at the national, regional, and international levels and with various organizations
- Awareness raising on disability issues and human rights in the region
- Putting disability issues on the social, economic, and political agenda of African Governments, and
- Strengthening the voices of persons with disabilities as well as the use of the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for persons with disabilities as a basis for the development of policies and legislation to protect and promote the interest of persons with disabilities in Africa.
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Sharing experiences/achievements through the Decade of Disabled Persons in the Arab Region. A presentation of the Arab Decade for PWD 2004-2013 was made by Mr. Nawaf Kabbara, President, Arab Organization of Disabled People, and Lebanon. Mr. Kabbara explained about the Arab countries' human values, authentic cultural and educational heritage; commitments to religious edict, international covenants, treaties, declarations, and the agreement of the United Nations and recommendations of United Nations conferences of the last decade of the 20th Century. In recalling the Convention of the Arab League, the Arab Convention of Social Justice, the Arab Strategy for Social Work, the Arab Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Arab Declaration on the Rights of the Family, and the Arab Strategy for Development and Health, the Arab countries continue their efforts in the areas of legislation, development, and support aimed at safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, including the right to habilitate, rehabilitate, and integrate into society, and guaranteeing their full participation in public life as an integral part of the fabric of society and human development. Mr. Kabbara believed that Persons with disabilities have the capacity and capability to contribute if they are presented with the appropriate training and rehabilitation services, equal opportunities, and the ability to participate equally with all other members of society to achieve true and comprehensive human development.
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Experiences/achievements through the previous Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). Government representatives from each country gave a report on their country's achievements on their National Policy on Disability, National Laws and Regulations on Disability, National Statistics on Population with Disabilities, and Remarkable Achievements through the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002).
In conclusion, Ms. Saranpat Anumatrajkij, APCD Director, expressed her sincere appreciation to all partner members and Government delegates for participating and sharing up-to-date presentations so we can learn from each other.
Progress of the APCD Building Construction
Good News! The construction of the APCD buildings is in the very final stage. Installation of equipment and interior designing is now in progress in both buildings, providing full accessibility for persons with disabilities.
