A Review Paper: Thailand

Sunee Saisupatpon

Regarding disability-specific legislations, the first Thai law specifically dealing with persons with disabilities in the Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons Act B.E. 2534 (1991). This landmark act defines rehabilitation as the improvement of the potentials and capacities of disabled people through medicine, education, social methods and vocational training to provide them opportunity to work or lead their lives equal to the level of non-disabled people. Another important legislation addresses the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities is the Thai Constitution adopted in 1997 with the specific provisions for persons with disabilities.

In light of the level of implementation of BMF in Thailand, Thailand participated in the High-level Inter-governmental Meeting in Japan in October 2002 when the BMF was adopted as the regional policy guideline for the new decade. At present, in order to implement the priority areas of action, Thailand conducted 2 workshops to introduce the BMF and identify the actions required to achieve the targets, especially in the areas of training and employment, including self-employment. The BMF will be shortly translated into Thai to reach people in all walks of life. In December 3, which is the international day of disabled persons, Thailand will organize the national seminar in cooperation with NGOs, civil society and people with disabilities themselves so as the define the priority areas and actively achieve the implementation. To be specific, the seminar aims to raise the public's awareness of the principles and policy direction of the BMF.

In terms of ICT, Thailand developed guideline for access to information and communications, including information, communication and assistive technologies based on the BMF. Moreover, the plan of actions, including programs, is now awaiting the cabinet approval.

In my view, there is a pressing need for an international convention on disability because this proposed convention needs to address the voices and concerns of persons with physical, sensory, intellectual and psychiatric disability, especially in remote areas and those who are indigenous and marginalized groups. More importantly, the convention should be rights-based, covering civil, political, economic, social and cultural lives so as to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. We need to seek the participation of persons with disabilities and their organization in the process of elaboration of the convention. That is, we recognize the multi-sectoral approach involving government, civil society organizations and the disabled people themselves.

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Main	Programme	Materials	Online	Beijing

	UN ESCAP/CDPF Regional Meeting on an International Convention on Disability Beijing, China, 4-7 November 2003