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Interview Corner

COOK ISLANDS: Hon.Ms. Ngamau Mere Munokoa Minister of Internal Affaris and Social Servies, Raotonga

Hon.Ms.Ngamau Mere Munokoa Minister of Internal Affaris and Social Servies, Raotonga The Government supports the BMF and is implementing in the area of education. I will try to convince my Government to set up a law on disability and change society positively. Each disabled person must receive income. Persons with disabilities receive 150 New Zealand dollars per month from the Government. The New Zealand Government and UNESCAP and other concerned persons have drafted a law in accordance with disabled persons.

The Disability Law in the Cook Islands is in the process of being endorsed but it will take many months. We do have a policy on disability that includes women with disabilities and accessibility. It will be reviewed before the end of 2012.

Fiji: Mr. Frederick Miller Pacific Islands Forum,Suva

Mr. Frederick Miller Pacific Islands Forum,Suva The Fiji Government is working with DPOs and summarizing the BMF to make it simple for people with disabilities. We are now in the final stages of the National Policy on Disability but due to our political situation, it has been held back. Currently, we do not have a disability policy and need an endorsement by the Cabinet as far as the 7 priority areas of the BMF. The first priority is women with disabilities in DPO because we see that women sometimes face discrimination problems. However, due to the change in Government, the Minister and Secretary of NCCD have also changed so the process is not yet moving.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Mr. J.Paraha Jalal, Deputy Secretary Community Development

Mr.J.Paraha Jalal Deputy Secretary Community Development Since APCD's CBSDHOD (Capacity Building for Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities) workshop in 2007 promoted an awareness of the BMF, all the self-help organizations of people with disabilities are interested in having training. After the CBSHOD training, persons with disabilities know their rights and seek opportunities for empowerment. The BMF aims to empower them so they will become more independent and participate in society.

Another concern is women with disabilities that the empowerment training will provide an opportunity for women with disabilities. We do have a women's organization supporting the BMF. They are starting to promote the United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Our inclusive education is going very well.

The Government is pushing and supporting the BMF and is now coming with a policy on disability. Since the CBSHOD, the National Government has been creating a policy on disability which is based on the BMF. We have a law on accessibility, however, many buildings are not accessible for people with disabilities. In our policy we will make sure that we provide accessibilities, which is within the spirit of BMF. The Government is going to ratify the United Nations Convention on Disability after the endorsement of the policy which has already been submitted to the Government. The Government wants to endorse the policy on disability which was recommended by CBSHOD.

THAILAND: Ms. Sunee Saisupatpol, Director, Bureau of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Ms.Sunee Saisupatpol,Director,Bureau of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities In Thailand, all priority areas in the BMF have been addressed but weigh in each area differently as follows:

The strength of Disabled Peoples Organzations (DPOs) in Thailand is an important wheel to drive the disability issue for a long time. In the new legislation, it is noted that the Government must strengthen DPOs, which was not addressed in the former Bill. The government is also stressing the significant role family members play for persons with disabilities.

For women with disabilities, the government has tried to change the attitude of family members in regards to Thai culture. Thai families are very concerned about their daughters so it is rather difficult for person with disabilities to go out from their homes. Currently, families with a person with a disability have more understanding on the issue of rights but only in small groups.

According to the new legislation, the issue of decent work for persons with disabilities is very visible. The Ministry of Labour is primarily responsible to increase the employment of disabled persons. The important condition in the new legislation notes that the government sector must employ persons with disabilities at the same rate as the private sector. If 60% of the employees at the workplace are persons with disabilities, a company/organization can have tax exemption; if less than 60%, taxes will be reduced.

A Sub-committee on Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities has been set up to address the issues of an accessible environment and ICT for disabled persons. The Sub-committee also invited stakeholders to make plans, for example, to include the concept of Universal Design as a course at the university level, make an accessible website for all, and provide training for agencies concerning disability. These plans along with the participation of DPOs will be incorporated into the National Plan of Quality of Life Development B.E. 2550-2554 as well. Lastly, the new Bill will upgrade the Bureau of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities to become the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities which will target PWDs and their families more comprehensively as well as cooperate with other stakeholders related to the Ministries of Transportation, Labour, ICT, Public Health and Interior.

In my opinion, the Convention would support the implementation on the BMF progressively. As we are a State Member, we will push the disability issue forward especially the new Bill that has many measures to protect the rights of persons with disabilities in keeping with the goal of the Convention in all aspects. The new Act was enforced on 28 September 2007.

VIETNAM: Mr. Nghiem Xuan Tue, Director of NCCD

Mr. Nghiem Xuan Tue, Director of NCCD In Vietnam we have been implementing the 7 priority areas of the BMF. In order to implement the 7 priority areas of the BMF plus 1 in Vietnam since Vietnam decided to add inter-ministerial collaboration to provide disability and development in a holistic manner. NCCD has relevant organizations from 17 ministries and 5 NGO for persons with disabilities.

Within the first five years of the Second Decade, NCCD has already approved a 5 year National Plan of Operation on disability. One of the most outstanding implementations of the BMF is in education and employment for persons with disabilities because we understand that persons with disabilities should also be given equal opportunities for vocational training and employment. Persons with disabilities can then participate in self-help organizations and have confidence to raise a voice concerning the needs of persons with disabilities. The Vietnamese delegation would like a component on accessible tourism in the area of the built environment and public transportation. After studying the Biwako Plus Five, we will report to the National Assembly and other organizations in Vietnam in order to authorize the content of Biwako Plus Five for the next five years. In the next five years, we will also emphasize access to ICT to facilitate accessibility by persons with disabilities to ICT.

At the present time, we only have ordinances but we plan to develop a disability law. The process to develop a disability law is an item in the Biwako Plus Five. The disability movement in Vietnam will open to the social sector which means that society will change with the disability movement. In fact, the disability movement in Vietnam is developing well thanks to the BMF and Policy Guidelines for the development of disability. So we will propose that the Government and the social sector promote the BMF Plus Five.

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