Publication > Newsletter > Newsletter 13 > Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD)

Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD)

CBSHOD Opening Ceremony, Islamabad APCD in collaboration with the Ministry for Social Welfare and Special Education, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, JICA, the World Bank, Disabled Peoples' International (DPI), and Pakistani disability-related organizations Organizing Committee held the Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD) at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan from 22-26 September 2005. It was attended by more than 70 participants and observers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. Resource persons included the following professionals:

Ms. Aiko Akiyama from the UNESCAP on the topic "BMF and its 7 Priority Areas".
Ms. Anuradha Mohit, Special Rapporteur, National Human Rights Commission of India, who shared her knowledge and experiences on Human Rights issues concerning persons with disabilities at the national and international levels. She also shared about 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. In addition, Ms. Anuradha organized a panel with women with disabilities as resource persons as a case study on the situation of women with disabilities.
Mr. Birendra Raj Sharma Pokharel, President, National Federation of the Disabled Nepal presented "Expected Functions/Roles of National Cross-Disability Self- Help Organizations" focusing on (1) barriers faced by PWDs, (2) the rights of PWDs (introducing "Social Models"), (3) how to provide priorities to PWDs by providing 3 main key strategies; awareness, advocacy, and capacity-building/ networking.
Ms. Cathy Ketepa, Coordinator, National Assembly of Disabled Persons from Papua New Guinea, lectured on "Learning Situation of Self-help Organizations in the Pacific Islands (Papua New Guinea)" sharing the disability movement and the situation of women with disabilities in Papua New Guinea.
Ms. Judith Heumann, Advisor, Disability and Development, the World Bank, who has had a long experience actively participating in disability development with the international community. She shared her experience with the disability and development project by the World Bank and on "Community-based Empowerment Initiatives: Relevance of IL and CBR".
Mr. Md. Abdus Sattar Dulal, Executive Director, Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity, shared knowledge on National Cross-Disability SHO Development and facilitated a group on the same issue. He also exchanged points of view on Good Practice on Advocacy with the participants.
Mr. Ronald Chandran-Dudley, Chairperson, Disabled People's Association from Singapore, shared his profession in the "History of Global Disability Movement and DPI" and "Accessible Information Management in Cross-Disability SHO".
Mr. Topong Kulkhanchit, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Regional Development Officer and APCD Resource Person, facilitated throughout the CBSHOD seminar to build awareness on CBSHOD related issues.
Mr. Muhammad Fazil Cheema, Director, Directorate General of Special Education, and Mr. Muhammad Atif Sheikh, President, Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP Pakistan) and Convener of the CBSHOD Organizing Committee, both from Pakistan, presented the Pakistani disability situation by the public and private sectors focusing on "SHO Working in Collaboration with Federal and Local Governments, and NGOs".

H.E. Mr. Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Government, Ms. Zobaida Jalal, Minister of Social Welfare and Special Education, Pakistan, and Mrs. Ormporn Nithayasuthi, Director, Bureau of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand presided over the opening ceremony. H.E. Mr. Shaukat Aziz expressed gratitude to APCD for selecting Islamabad as the venue for the Seminar. He also conveyed congratulations to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, and the CBSHOD Secretariat for organizing the Seminar. He stated, "for the first time in the Pakistan's history, the Government has approved a comprehensive National Policy for Persons with Disabilities in the year 2002. This step was taken under the guidance and leadership of President General Pervaiz Musharra. The National Policy aims to provide services to persons with disabilities who constitute 2.49% of Pakistan's population according to the 1998 Census. The Policy stipulates provision of access to persons with disabilities to all such facilities, which may lead to their integration in society and ensure that they have equal access to education, employment, vocational training, medical treatment, and rehabilitation without any discrimination. Guided by the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 and the precepts of Islam namely, "Adl and Ihsan" (Justice and Kindness), the Government of Pakistan has taken a number of steps for improving the lot of persons with disabilities."

Performance of Students at the Al Makhtoom Center of Visual Handicapped Children A field visit was organized to the Al Makhtoom Center of Visual Handicapped Children, Islamabad. Participants were able to view and observe the facilities in the Center; Braille Room, Computer Lab, CCTV Room, and Classrooms.

The CBSHOD was a five-day knowledgeable and successful regional training seminar showing the impact made by this workshop. The draft of the Islamabad Declaration approved by all the participants was handed to Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan at the closing ceremony.

APCD would like to express gratitude to all partnerships in organizing CBSHOD in Pakistan. This shows the unity working towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. APCD anticipates effective outcomes and future collaboration among all stakeholders on disability.

ISLAMABAD DECLARATION

We, the participants with Disabilities from 21 countries of Asia and the Pacific region including 40 participants from all over Pakistan, of the Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD) convened from 22 to 26 September 2005 in Islamabad, Pakistan, hereby appreciate the initiative taken by the Ministry of Social Welfare & Special Education of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Asia- Pacific Development Center on Disabilities (APCD) with the cooperation of JICA, the Thai government and World Bank, strongly urge and encourage all governments of the Asia and Pacific region to;

Support the UN Convention on Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Empower and develop National Cross-Disabilities Self-help Organizations to collaborate with their respective government for ensuring the implementation of a national & international policy frame work on disability;
Develop a mechanism with representatives from Self-help Organizations to advocate the government for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities at all levels of decision-making;
Ensure equal opportunities for Women with Disabilities through their participation in decision-making processes and the repeal of existing legislation that discriminates against them;
Ensure that accessibility, inclusive education, sign language, information technology and employment opportunities are promoted through the implementation of the existing legal framework or by the enactment of legislation in countries where this does not exist;
Enable the Self-help Organizations working in rural areas to promote improvement in the quality of life and ensuring equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities;
We, the participants of CBSHOD encourage APCD to strengthen the regional collaboration of APCD activities endorsed by UN-ESCAP.

We finally appeal to all the governments of the Asia and Pacific region, Self-help Organizations and development partners including the World Bank and JICA to implement this Declaration by formulating an adequate Plan of Action.

Islamabad, Pakistan
September 26, 2005

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