Publication > Newsletter > Newsletter 17 > Report on UNESCAP/APCD Seminar on South-to-South Cooperation on Disability: Development of APCD Network

Report on
UNESCAP/APCD Seminar on South-to-South Cooperation on Disability: Development of APCD Network
22 September 2006, Bangkok

Seminar on South-to-South Cooperation The objectives of the seminar were to: (1) share outcomes of national focal points and associate organizations; (2) expand the network of stakeholders of APCD activities; and (3) consider the future direction of APCD.

An opening statement was delivered by Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer-in-Charge, a.i., of the Secretariat, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). He shared that UNESCAP was preparing for the mid-point review of the second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, and that the seminar's inputs would be valuable for such review. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Jiro Usui, Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Embassy of Japan. Mr. Usui informed the participants that APCD was the legacy of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, and that the BMF identified APCD as a regional organization to promote empowerment of persons with disabilities and a barrier-free society. Mr. Chanyut Kosirinond, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand, gave the inauguration speech. On behalf of the Ministry, he expressed continuous support for the operation and management of APCD in close collaboration with all the seminar participants and other concerned parties to achieve empowerment of persons with disabilities and promote a barrier-free society in the region.

The Seminar was attended by the representatives of APCD national focal points and associate organizations from the following countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. Participants from organizations of persons with disabilities from Southern African countries also attended the Seminar to deliberate on the achievements and good practices.

Mr. Tanin Kraivixien with APCD Stakeholders Mr. Tanin Kraivixien, Chairperson of the APCD Foundation, gave a presentation on the APCD Foundation's fund-raising activities and support for APCD. Professor Wiriya Namsiripongpun, APCD Executive Board Member, gave a presentation on APCD's organizational development.

Ms. Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Disability Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific, the World Bank, presented a paper titled "Toward Inclusive Development: the Experience of the East Asia and the Pacific Region of the World Bank." In her presentation, Ms. McClain-Nhlapo stressed that the Bank's advantage to support disability mainstreaming included its high quality analytical work, assistance in building capacity, demonstrating and testing innovative approaches. She explained extensive efforts that the World Bank had taken to include disability issues into its activities. The Bank had established regional working groups within itself and published a handbook on how to include disability into a country's poverty reduction strategy paper. In conclusion, she mentioned that mainstreaming disability issues was a key to reduce poverty and would contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Ms. Aiko Akiyama, Project Expert on Disability, UNESCAP gave a presentation on recent progress in the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action as well as the draft on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mr. Mompati Basman Ngakanitsi, Assistant Director of the Office of the Status of Disabled Persons, South Africa, gave a presentation on "Achievement of the Decade of Disabled Persons in Africa". He expressed African's desire to learn more from the Asian and Pacific region and to promote an exchange between the two regions to achieve full participation and equality of persons with disabilities in the two regions.

APCD collaborating entities ranged from small self-help groups of persons with disabilities, national and subnational self-help organizations of persons with disabilities, local and international non-governmental organizations, to government agencies as national focal points. This wide range of collaboration is one of the most significant characteristics of APCD.

This session on good practices was evidence of the extensive and wide-range of achievements of APCD activities and collaboration with its stakeholders. These achievements might have strong correlation with: (i) APCD's wide-range and different levels of interactions with its stakeholder organizations, (ii) various types of methods to interact with its stakeholders, (iii) identification of young and new leaders of disability movements, and (iv) prompt response to emerging needs of stakeholders.

A plenary discussion was held on future development and collaboration with APCD, including issues of APCD's future program development, its future organizational status and management system, and contribution of national focal points and associate organizations toward APCD activities and regional cooperation.

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Report on UNESCAP/APCD Seminar on South-to-South Cooperation on Disability: Development of APCD Network 22 September 2006, Bangkok

Report on
UNESCAP/APCD Seminar on South-to-South Cooperation on Disability: Development of APCD Network
22 September 2006, Bangkok