Pacific Sub-Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for
Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD)
12-16 February 2007
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY DECLARATION

We, the participants from 13 countries of Asian and the Pacific region, also representing self-help organizations of persons with disabilities, including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga and Vanuatu, attending the Pacific Sub-Regional Training Seminar on Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CBSHOD), held from 12-16 February 2007 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, would like to profusely thank the Ministry of Community Development of Papua New Guinea , the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) Asian and Pacific Region, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the people of Papua New Guinea for their warm hospitality and support in the successful implementation of this event.

We would like to record our deepest gratitude and warmest appreciation to the Right Honourable Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, and Honourable Lady Dame Carol Kidu, Minister for Community Development for their presence and support to CBSHOD.

Further, we would like to declare our collective statement as follows:

1. We acknowledge the commitment and efforts of APCD towards the strengthening of self-help organizations of persons with disabilities, and encourage them for their continuous promotion of the disability movement in the Asian and Pacific Region.

2. We propose that Governments in the Pacific Sub-region as well as relevant partners in the Asian and Pacific Region support and recognize the formation of a national cross-disability as well as national single disability self-help organizations of persons with disabilities in each country of the Pacific Sub-region.

3. We encourage all Pacific Island countries to actively pursue the implementation of the targets, actions and strategies of the seven priority areas of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF), as well as to fully participate in its review and development of the Biwako Plus Five in 2007 as facilitated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Region (UNESCAP).

4. We appeal to the countries of the Pacific Sub-region to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 2006, and to ensure that persons with disabilities themselves are consulted, included and represented in this process including its implementation.

5. We declare our commitment to the building of the capacity of national grassroots self-help organizations of persons with disabilities in the Pacific Sub-region, the development of useful network arrangements among countries within the Asia and Pacific Region, and the effective collaboration of such organizations with the international disability movement. Further, we request the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) to facilitate the establishment and strengthening of Pacific Sub-regional cooperation and information sharing mechanism on disability-related concerns.

6. We strongly urge all national self-help organizations of persons with disabilities in the Pacific Sub-region to develop, support and promote future leaders both at the grassroots and national levels, and to ensure equal participation of women with disabilities as well as persons with hearing, psychiatric, and intellectual disabilities in their activities. We also recognize the potentials of persons with disabilities to actively engage in all areas and at all levels of society, including social, cultural, economical and political participation.

   Further, we appeal to the Government of Papua New Guinea to consider the following recommendations to build the capacity, strengthen the participation, and improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Papua New Guinea.

7. That Papua New Guinea National Policy on Disability be adopted by the Government immediately after the CBSHOD.
8. The Government to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with persons with disabilities in the country.
9. The Government to recognize the Papua New Guinea National Assembly of Disabled Persons (NADP) as the national representative and collective voice of persons with disabilities in the country, and to provide necessary support, including financial, technical and others.
10. The Government of Papua New Guinea and relevant stakeholders to put into place policies, plans and strategies for people with disabilities in the event of natural disaster.