International Day of Disabled Persons 2006
Pakistan
On 1 December 2006, Sindh Disability Forum (SDF)
addressed a press conference at Karachi Press Club,
Karachi. Through this there were demands for inclusion in
the decision-making process in legislative assemblies,
accessible transport and environment, and implementation
of the 2% quota in government jobs. On 2 December 2006,
all member organizations celebrated the day in their
respective cities and towns. Most staged rallies and other
organizations organized seminars on E-Accessibility. This
year the electronic media of Pakistan gave special coverage
to IDDP. In this regard SDF collaborated with TV channels
for special features on the problems of persons with disabilities.
SDF staged a rally from Karachi Press Club to Governor
House on 3 December 2006.
Special Talent Exchange Program in collaboration
with Handicap International organized a national level forum
to recognize the UN Convention, particularly its clauses on
"E-Accessibility" in accordance with the theme of IDDP 2006.
More than 200 people attended. The outcomes were
advocacy and understanding about the UN Convention on a
large scale among disability stakeholders. Moreover, they
are learning about the new dimensions and trends in
Accessible Information and Communication Technology as
well as awareness on a large scale about the rights of
persons with disabilities due to their involvement with Mass
Electronic and Print media.
Various activities carried out across the country by
organizations of Persons with Disabilities were under the
flag of DPI-Pakistan; on 25 of November 2006 JICA overseas
volunteers in collaboration with the National Training Center
for Disabled Persons and DPOs conducted an open forum
along with an exhibition of disability stakeholders in
Islamabad.
On 3 December 2006, the Prime Minister of
Pakistan inaugurated the Blind Cricket World Cup in
Islamabad and more than 200 persons with disabilities held
a march in Islamabad.
Nepal
National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (DPI-Nepal)
celebrated with a week long activities from the national to
the district levels with active participation of its member
SHOs, NGOs and relevant stakeholders. The following
remarkable achievements observed in the course of IDDP
celebration this year include:
- The Government has officially declared a public
holiday for employed persons with disabilities in public and
private services on the IDDP from this year on.
- The Honorable Minister Urmila Aryal and
representatives of seven major political parties have
expressed commitments to take necessary action for the
ratification of the "International Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities".
- The Ministry of Local Development has decided to
allocate NPR. 30,000/- for each Village Development
Committee for the Disabilities sector.
- Independent Living Center organized various
activities to celebrate the International Day of Disabled
Persons 2006 with the financial support of Action Aid Nepal,
participated in by DPO's, concerned organizations, human
rights workers, civil society, reporters, persons with
disabilities and other citizens. The most effective program
was the physical barrier-free campaign. The concerned people
expressed commitment to making arrangements for a
barrier-free path at ground level, constructing barrier-free
toilets, making necessary work plans and policies,
implementing them and creating an accessible and easy
environment for persons with disabilities to receive facilities
from the ministries.
- In Nepal, national celebrations for International Day
of Disabled Persons (IDDP), 3 December 2006, provided great
opportunities for government, organizations of persons with
disabilities and the public at large to focus on the potential
of persons with disabilities and to collectively work out
strategies on how to break down social and economic
barriers. It also supported the theme "E-Accessibility".
The celebration created awareness among political parties,
government, civil society and policy makers to commit to
the participation of persons with disabilities in the
constitutional assembly, Substitution Parliament and
National Government. The observance of IDDP this year also
pushed for the ratification of the "International Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" in the forthcoming
UN General Assembly.
Sri Lanka
The DAISY Lanka Foundation (DLF) jointly with the
Information and Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA)
organised a seminar on Web Accessibility for web
developers and other key ICT persons to celebrate the
International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December 2006.
Mr. Samantha Mathara Arachchi of the University of Colombo
School of Computing who attended the APCD Accessible
Web-based Information Networking (WBN) Workshop in
2005 was a resource person along with Prof. D.P.M.
Weerakkody, Vice-Chairman of DLF.
Vanuatu
Activities were staged in remote islands such as
Tomman Island in Malekula, Loh Island in the Banks,
Motalava in the Torres Group and by various communities in
Santo. In Port Vila, members of the disability community
with their families and friends joined the Sunday service at
the Patton Memorial Church.
Thailand
- On 30 November 2006 at Santichaiprakarn Park in
Bangkok, the Minister of Public Health launched a Joint
Project on a Barrier-free Society for All with the government
and private sectors working in close collaboration with
disabled peoples organizations. The highlight was the
signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that
within 6 months accessible toilets and parking spaces will
be provided at all gas stations, shopping centers, and
private hospitals throughout the country. Some private
companies who joined the project are Shell Co., Petronas
Co., Bangchak Oil Co., Seri Center Shopping Mall, Robinson
Dept Store, Carrefour, etc.
- On 1 December 2006 Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont presided over the opening ceremony of the
International Day of Disabled Persons 2006 organised by
the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and
presented awards to persons and organisations that have
been working to support persons with disabilities. A panel
discussion followed on the theme "Access to Social
Welfare and Information Communication Technology" which
was primarily divided into two forums. One was how to
pursue the issue of persons with disabilities having access
to information and an accessible environment.
- On 1 December 2006 at the Tesco-Lotus
Department Store in Nonthaburi province, the Nonthaburi
Society of Disabled Persons celebrated IDDP 2006. Aside
from this outstanding award presented to government offices
and private companies who provided best services for people
with disabilities, performances from children with
disabilities and a public dialogue on E-Accessibility was
organized. Significant recommendations will be proposed
to the government and agencies in concern, such as, a
Public Internet Center at all Sub-districts to be equipped
with voice synthesizer software for the blind and webcam for
the deaf.
India
Thousands of disabled people, their families, friends
and activists gathered at India Gate in the heart of the
capital to mark World Disability Day by participating in the
IBM Walk to Freedom. The National Centre for Promotion of
Employment for Disabled People was instrumental in
starting this march ten years ago to highlight the
importance of the rights of disabled persons in India.
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