Day 1: Tuesday, 4 November 2003

Hosted by Mr. Shen Zhifei, Deputy Secretary General of the State council Coordinating committee on Disabiity of china and Vice President of China Disabled Persons' Federation

1. Welcome speech by Mr Deng Pufang, Vice-Chair of the State Council Coordinating Committee on Disability and Chairperson, China, China Disabled Persons' Federation (CPDF);
   
2. Welcome message of Mr Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP (to be read by Ms. Keiko Okaido, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP);
   
3. Message of Ms Venus Ilagan, Chairperson, Disabled Persons' International
   
4. Message of Ms. Akiko Ito, Disability Focal Point, UN DESA NY;
   
5. Inaugural speech by Mr. Shen Guofang, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China

1. Mr. Shen Zhifei, Vice President of CDPF
   
2. Ms Anuradha Mohit, Commissioner on Disability, Human Rights Commission, India

1. The objective of this seminar by Ms Kay Nagata, Disability Focal Point, UNESCAP

1. Overview of the process of the Standard Rules and the proposed International convention on the rights of persons with disabilities by Mr. Clinton Rapley, (resource person)
   
2. Overview of ESCAP move towards an international convention and "the Bangkok Draft on the elements of the Convention" (the outcome of ESCAP EGM 14-17 June 2003) by Ms Kay Nagata, UNESCAP
   
3. Overview of the second session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (16-27 June 2003, New York) by Mr. Shen Zhifei, CDPF

1. Capacity building of national governments and NGOs to promote the rights of persons with disabilities by Mr Nicholas Howen, Regional Advisor for Asia-Pacific, UNCHR
   
2. Presentation of the Biwako millennium framework for action as a tool for mainstreaming disability concerns (Ms Aiko Akiyama, UN ESCAP/ Digital slide show)

Day 2: Wednesday, 5 November 2003

1. Future options for disability policy and programme within the context a broad human rights framework, Ms Akiko Ito, UN DESA
   
2. Ongoing work on disability to support the process toward the Convention, Ms Mona Pare, UN DESA
   
3. Open discussion

1. Implications for building national capacities for equalization of opportunities (Mr. Clinton Rapley)
   
2. Review of national situation of the rights of persons with disabilities (selected governments, UN and NGOs) by participants & UNESCAP

Day 3: Thursday, 6 November 2003

1. Preamble, Definitions (Disability, Discrimination), General Obligations of State Parties - broad definition of accessibility
2. Civil and Political Rights, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
3. Other State Obligations/Application of the Convention

Day 4: Friday, 7 November 2003