Mrs. Sadako Ogata, President of JICA, Visits APCD Project

Mrs. Sadako Ogata, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was welcomed by Ms. Panita Kambhu, Director-General of Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups for a brief visit to APCD on 18 June 2005. Mr. Eiji Hashimoto, Deputy Vice-President of JICA and Mr. Satoru Kohiyama, Director General accompanied Mrs. Ogata.

Mr. Monthian Buntan, APCD resource persons and Prof. Akiie Ninomiya, Chief Advisor, APCD Project gave presentations on APCD's mission to empower persons with disabilities.

Members of the 3 pioneer Independent Living Groups in Thailand met with Mrs. Ogata to share their experiences due to her keen interest in human security which is a priority issue for JICA.

Ms. Akiko Fukuda, an expert on independent living stated "We change society to be friendly for all; PWDs do not need to change for society."