The First Session of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) Stakeholders' Coordination Meeting
Bangkok, Thailand, 17-19 July 2006

TWGDC10/MINUTES
14 December 2005

UNITED NATIONS
REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM
THEMATIC WORKING GROUP ON DISABILITY-RELATED CONCERNS

Tenth Session
7-8 July 2005
United Nations Conference Centre
Bangkok

MINUTES

This document has been issued without formal editing.

CONTENTS

I. OPENING OF THE MEETING

Ms Thelma Kay, Director, Emerging Social issues Division (ESID) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (UNESCAP), opened the Tenth Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWG-DC) with a welcome statement.

Ms Thelma Kay first extended her sincere gratitude to the participants who had already made significant contributions to the two workshops which were successfully completed immediately prior to the current TWG-DC Session. These workshops are "Workshop on Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Poverty Alleviation of Persons with Disabilities," organized by UNESCAP, and "Unlocking Potential: Multinational Corporation Roundtable on Disability and Employment," organized by the TWG-DC Task Force on employment and poverty alleviation.

Ms Kay pointed out that the most recent UNESCAP resolution 61/8 of 18 May 2005 was significant since it provides a clear mandate to organize a three-day high-level intergovernmental meeting in 2007 for the midpoint review of the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrie-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (BMF).

Ms Kay explained that the main objective of the current TWG-DC session was to actively involve the participants in a process towards the midpoint high-level intergovernmental meeting on the proposed UNESCAP strategy, entitled "Biwako plus 5: forward Looking Strategies for the Second Half of the Decade."

Ms Kay concluded her speech by reaffirming our continued commitments for the rest of the Decade.

The Tenth Session of the TWG-DC was chaired by the appointed chairperson, Mr Wim Polan of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It was attended by some 80 participants. The list of participants is attached as Annex I.

II. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The TWG-DC adopted the following agenda.

A. Meetings of Task Forces:

(a) Education of All Children and Youth with Disabilities (EFA);

(b) Employment and Poverty Alleviation;

(c) Information and Communication Technology (ICT);

(d) Women with Disabilities and Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (SHOs);

(e) Proposed International Convention on Persons with Disabilities.

B. Plenary session:

1. Tenth Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWG-DC), plenary session.

2. Adoption of the Agenda.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Eighth Session of the TWG-DC, held 1-2 December 2004.

4. Task Force action reports.

5. Reports of the Workshop on Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) for Poverty Alleviation (Bangkok 5 July 2005) and a Multinational Cooperation Roundtable on Disability and Employment (Bangkok, 6 July 2005), co-sponsored by UNESCAP and ILO.

6. Proposed Steps towards Biwako +5: Forward Looking Strategies for the 2^nd Half of the Decade at the Intergovernmental Meeting on the mid-point review of the BMF (2007) (UNESCAP).

7. Other matters.

III. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE EIGTH SESSION OF THE TWG-DC

The minutes of the Ninth Session of the TWG-DC, held in Bangkok, from 1 to 2 December 2004, were adopted with minor amendments.

IV. TASK FORCE ACTION REPORTS

Brief reports were presented from the seven Task Forces listed in the agenda. Full Task Force minutes are presented in the Annex II.

(a) Education for All Children and Youth with Disabilities (EFA)

The Task Force members reported on activities they had either attended or initiated during the last six months. The activities included Tsunami damage assessment by the Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM), translation of UNESCO toolkit for inclusive education in different languages, and UNESCO ongoing project to develop a "Manual for Action to Include Children with Disabilities in School System".

The Task Force proposed that the current Task Force and the regional Flagship Working Group on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities were to be merged as one entity with a reason that goals and strategies of the two groups seemed identical. The Task Force further proposed its own name change reflecting the merge. However, UNESCAP secretariat showed some reservation because the merge had both substantive and structural ramifications for the Task Force, whose activities are open-ended by nature. Thus further clarifications of the proposal were requested and the detailed discussion would take place at the next Eleventh Session of the TWG-DC.

(b) Employment and Poverty Alleviation

The Task Force reported on two workshops, which it organized and was completed immediately prior to the current TWG-DC Session; 1) Workshop on Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Poverty Alleviation of Persons with Disabilities (5 July 2005, Bangkok) and Unlocking Potential: a Multinational Corporation Roundtable on Disability and Employment (6 July 2005, Bangkok).

The CBR Workshop's was attended by approximately 90 participants including policy-makers, CBR practitioners and representatives from disabled people's organizations. They agreed upon the "Joint Statement on CBR and Other Community Initiatives for Poverty Alleviation among Persons with Disabilities" at the end of the Workshop. The Statement delineates "Forming self-help groups should be encouraged in the process of CBR as role models and peer support are essential and effective for empowerment of persons with disabilities in the community." The secretariat informed that, building on the outcome of the Workshop, UNESCAP and China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) would co-organize a Field Study cum Regional Workshop on Capacity Building of Grassroots Self-help Groups of Persons with Disabilities in Local Communities in Chendgu, Sichuan Province, China, 16-18 August 2005.

The Roundtable was attended by approximately 90 participants from multinational companies, disability policy-making bodies and disabled people's organizations. Task Force members, who had attended, shared their feedbacks on the Roundtable. Follow-up actions recommended by the Roundtable included continuing dialogue and exchange among the participants to collect more good practices on employment of persons with disabilities, replication of the multi-stakeholder roundtable at a national level, development of "the Resource Manuals for Employers" and formation of regional network of employers.

(c) Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

The Task Force reported on recent developments and planned activities in this area. One of the future activities, which was considered highly significant, was the Second World Summit for Information Society (WSIS), to be held in Tunis, Tunisia, from 16 to 18 November 2005. Mr Monthian Buntan, the Chairperson of the Task Force, was expected to participate in this Summit to further mainstream disability perspectives in the discussions and expected outcome document.

The Task Force reported on its discussion on promotion of BMF implementation in the relevant five targets. The Task Force was of a view that many of the targets had not been achieved yet. However, members also recognized that many countries in the region now had developed their own national sign languages, which reflected the achievement of the BMF target 19.

The Task Force was of a view that a regional survey on access to information and communications should be conducted in order to accurately assess the implementation of the relevant BMF targets. This survey results would supplement information derived from the UNESCAP BMF survey which has been distributed since 2004. According to the proposal UNESCAP, the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) and the Task Force would collaborate to conduct the proposed survey. The proposal was unanimously agreed by the plenary session and will be implemented as follows:

(i) The Task Force members will formulate questionnaire;

(ii) UNESCAP will disseminate the questionnaire to Governments/NGOs in the region, and the replies will be forwarded to a focal point at JSPRD;

(iii) JSPRD will be responsible for analysis of the data and production of a research paper.

(d) Women with disabilities (WWD)

The Task Force reported on its discussion on mainly three topics: incorporating disabled women's issues into mainstream gender activities; the proposed international convention on disability and implementation of the relevant BMF targets.

The Task Force reported that a UNICEF representative made a presentation on its initiatives on girl's education. The Task Force felt that girls and women with disabilities should be appropriately incorporated into its activities.

In relationship to the target 5 of the BMF, it was decided that an official letter would be sent from the Task Force to Ms Thelma Kay, Director of ESID requesting to incorporate issues of women with disabilities in the Thematic Working Group on Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality, organized by the Gender and Development Section of ESID. It was also decided that Task Force would submit recommendations to the UNICEF meeting to be held in Paris later this year, to incorporate disabled women's perspectives.

As for the ongoing negotiation process of the international convention on disability, the Task Force strongly felt that the there should be a separate and independent article on women with disabilities in the draft text.

Some Task Force members reported on achievements of the relevant BMF targets. For example, in Bangladesh, the National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD), a coalition of NGOs in disability field, has a policy to mainstream women with disabilities in the activities and has been appropriately translating it into practice. The Disability Discrimination Ordinance in Hong Kong, China, established in 1995, covers women with disabilities, and the law is sufficiently enforced. The Task Force held a view that the target 3 of the BMF on establishment of anti-discrimination measure on women with disabilities was already achieved in Hong Kong, China.

(e) Self-help Organizations (SHOs)

For the first time, representatives from Samoa and Solomon Islands participated in the meeting and reported on the recent developments in each country. The Task Force was informed that Solomon Islands had completed drafting of its national policy on disability (2005-2010), and had started drafting relevant legislation.

The Task Force had a discussion on the implementation of the BMF targets under priority area 1 on Self-help Organizations (SHOs). UNESCAP secretariat informed that the regional workshop on the BMF in 2006 would focus on this particular area.

(f) Proposed International Convention on Persons with Disabilities

The Task Force first reported on two forthcoming meetings on the convention to be organized by UNESCAP: Workshop on Regional Follow-up to the Fifth Session and Preparation for the Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (26-27 July 2005, Bangkok) and a side event on international cooperation (11 August 2005) during the Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee.

The Task Force reported progress made during the Fifth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee and expected deliberation during its Six Session. Government's negotiation over the articles from 7 to 15 was completed, so at the Six Session, negotiation over the articles from 16 to 25 was expected to take place. The Task Force also reported that there was growing uncertainty over the timing of the completion of the convention drafting process and impact of the UN structural reform on the content of the draft.

Lastly, the Task Force reported on examples of national level efforts made to promote the international convention, namely, from Bangladesh, Australia, the Philippines and Thailand.

(g) Post-conflict Countries

Though the Task Force was not convened this time, Mr Laurentino Guterres of KATILOSA, a disability NGO from Timor Leste made a presentation on the recent development of national policy in the country (please see the Annex III for a copy of the presentation). The plenary session was informed that the policy was developed with a help of a USAID-funded consultant, and with consultation of multiple Government agencies, civil society organizations and persons with disabilities representing all of the 13 districts in the country. In this process, persons with disabilities accounted for more than 40 per cent. The drafted policy is now submitted to the Council of Ministers for the endorsement.

V. REPORTS FROM THE WORKSHOP ON COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILIATION (CBR) FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION (BANKOK, 5 JULY 2005) AND A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION ROUNDTABLE ON DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT (BANGKOK 6 JULY 2005), CO-SPONSORED BY UNESCAP AND ILO

Following a report made by the Task Force on employment and Poverty Alleviation, the plenary participants further exchanged information and views on the contents and follow-up activities on the two meetings. The plenary session held a view that both of the two meetings were successful.

VI. PROPOSED STEPS FOR BIWAKO+5: FORWARD-LOOKING STRATEGIES FOR THE 2^ND HALD OF THE DECADEB AT THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL MEETING ON THE MID-POINT REVIEW OF THE BMF (2007) (UNESCAP)

The secretariat made a presentation on its proposed steps for Biwako +5: Forward-Looking Strategies for the 2^nd Half of the Decade at the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Mid-point Review of the BMF (2007) (please see the Annex IV for a copy of the presentation).

First, the secretariat reiterated the importance of the three-day high-level intergovernmental meeting in 2007, which was mandated in the UNESCAP resolution 61/8 of 18 May 2005, and which would be the culminating point to establish strategies for the 2^nd half of the Decade. Then, the secretariat proposed that TWG-DC participants be actively involving in the process of the drafting the strategies online and through a number of reviewing processes between now and 2007. The secretariat presented a prepared text with a set of key issues for the participants to brainstorm ideas. Formation of four thematic working groups was also recommended to work on specific aspects of the strategies.

The plenary session unanimously agreed upon the proposed process and the formation of the working groups. Some participants at the plenary already nominated themselves to be members of the working groups. UNESCAP secretariat will communicate with all the members of the TWG-DC on this agreement online, seeking for wider membership of the working groups and encouraging the first review process at the forthcoming regional workshop on national action plan on disability, to be held from 19 to 21 October 2005.

VII. OTHER MATTERS

On behalf of the Asian and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF), Mr J.B. Munro informed on the recent progress made regarding the APDF 2^nd General Meeting. According to Mr Munro, the Meeting will be held from 24 to 27 June 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, with support provided by various Governmental agencies and NGOs such as Disability Australia. This Meeting will be held in conjunction with the TWG-DC session.

It was announced and agreed that there would be no more session of the TWG-DC in 2005. Thus the next 11^th Session of the TWG-DC would be the one to be held with this Meeting in Australia.

ANNEX I
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

AUSTRALIA

Ms Heidi Forrest, President, People with Disability Australia, New South Wales

Ms Alanna Clohesy, Acting Executive Director, People with Disability Australia, P.O. Box 666, Strawberry Hills, New South Wales

Ms Pennelope Price, Development & Education, Lesmurdie, West Australia

Mr Jason McKey, Australian Council of Rehabilitation Organizations on Disability (ACROD), Queensland

Mr Bryan Woodford, President, Australian Council for Overseas Aid Disability Development (ACROD), 244 Flinders Street, Melbourne

BANGLADESH

Mr Nazmul Bari, Deputy Director, Centre for Disability in Development, Dhaka

Mr Masudul Abedin Khan, Project Coordinator, Centre for Disability in Development, Dhaka

Ms Farida Yesmin, Executive Director, Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA), Dhaka

Ms Lima Dewan, Unit Manager, 75 BRAC center, 17^th Floor, BEP Mohakhali, Dhaka

CAMBODIA

Mr Chad Conlin, Development Affairs Associate, NGO Forum on Cambodia, Phnom Penh

Mr Seila Hort, Deputy Rehabilitation Director, Veterans International/Cambodia, Phnom Penh

Mr Long Ly, National Centre of Disabled Persons, Phnom Penh

Ms Marry Scott, Cambodia Trust, Phnom Penh

Mr Ngy San, Disability Action Council, Phnom Penh

Ms Claire Perrin-Hounoul, Socio-economic Domain Coordinator, Handicap International, Phnom Penh

FRANCE

Ms Domintque Blu, Education Expert, Handicap International France, Paris

HONG KONG, CHINA

Mr Philip Chi-Hoi Yuen, Secretary, Joint Council for the Physically and Mentally Disabled, and Rehabilitation Chief Officer, Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Ms Emily Wai-Ying Fung, Consultant and Support Person of the Chosen Power (People First Hong Kong)

Ms Helen Sheung-Seen Tsou, Volunteer, Joint Council for the Physically and Mentally Disabled and Rehabilitation Chief Officer, Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Mr Joseph Kwok, R.S.W., Ph.D., J.P., Vice Chairman, Rehabilitation International Regional Committee for Asia and Pacific, Rehabilitation International c/o Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong

Ms Wan Lai You, Deborah, Chief Executive Officer, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Kowloon

Ms Themis Chan, Labour Officer, Selective Placement Division, Labour Department, HKSAR

INDIA

Mr Mridul Jain, Director, Ministry of Social Justice and Employment, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi

INDONESIA

Mr Robinson W. Saragih, Director of Social Rehabilitation and Services for Persons with Disabilities, Directorate General for Social Rehabilitation and Services, Ministry of Social Affairs, Jakarta

JAPAN

Ms Etsuko Ueno, Asia Pacific Disability Forum, Tokyo

Mr Osamu Nagase, Councillor, Inclusion International, Tokyo

Ms Misako Arai, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability (JSRPD), Tokyo

MALAYSIA

Mr Kenji Kuno, Chief Advisor, JICA Malaysia Office, Kuala Lumpur

Ms Norani Hashim, Director, Consultancy and Community Services Division, Department of Social Welfare, Kuala Lumpur

Ms Ming-Hul Hsiao, Eden Handicap Service Centre Berhad, Penang

Ms L-Chia Lee, Eden Handicap Service Centre Berhad, Penang

Ms Amma Lee, Eden Handicap Service Centre Berhad, Penang

Ms Zaharah Zainal Abidin, Assistant Director of Labour, Ministry of Human Resources, Kuala Lumpur

Mr Rahamah Mohd Baki, Department of Social Welfare, Kuala Lumpur

Mr William G. Brohier, Regional Adviser, Education of Visually Impaired Persons, CBM Christoffel-Blindenmission, Christian Blind Mission e.V., & Past President, International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), Penang

NEW ZEALAND

Mr J.B. Munro, Vice Chair of APDF and Inclusion International Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region, Mosgiel

PHILIPPINES

Ms Catalina L. Fermin, Executive Director, National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, Quezon City

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Mr Jung Duk Hwan, Eden Welfare Foundation, Gyeonggi-do

Mr Ko Sang Ho, Eden Welfare Foundation, Gyeonggi-do

Mr Yoon Hi Wang, Eden Welfare Foundation, Gyeonggi-do

SAMOA

Mr Nofovaleane Mapusua, Inclusion International, Apia

SINGAPORE

Ms Lieng Sheau Yea, Manager, Employment Placement Division

Mr Lim Puay Tiak, National Council of Social Service

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Ms Savina Daulaasi, President, Disabled Peoples Association of Solomon Island (DPA)

Ms Sade Melody Kaelonga, Disability Peoples Association (DPA)

SRI LANKA

Mr Jayamanne Mohottige Don Calistus, Assistant Secretary (Development), CBR Unit, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Social Welfare, Battaramulla

THAILAND

Ms Akiko Fukuda, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP), Nonthaburi

Ms Supattraporn Tanatikom, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP), Nonthaburi

Ms Chidchanok Fakfai, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP), Nonthaburi

Ms Junko Homma, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP), Nonthaburi

Mr Kirk Horton, Regional Representative, Hilton/Perkins Program, 420 Rajavithi Road, Bangkok

Mr Pecharat Techavachara, President, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind, Bangkok

Ms Amporn Techavachara, Manager, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind, Bangkok

Ms Aki Fujiwara, Liaison Officer, Handicap International-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Shushira Chonhenchob, Disability and Development Manager, Handicap International-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Jaruwan Tiwasiri, Project Coordinator, Handicap International-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Prapanrat Kochasena, Project Coordinator, Handicap International-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Nipatta Quamman, Assistant Project Coordinator, Handicap Inernational-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Wasita Kichpreecha, Assistant Project Coordinator, Handicap International-Thailand, Bangkok

Ms Phoranee Louineau, President, Parents' Association of the Intellectually Impared, Bangkok

Ms Anita Louineau, Parents' Association of the Intellectually Impared, Bangkok

Ms Kanitta Kmolwat, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Mr Akiie Ninomiya, Chief Advisor, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Jirat Wachirasereechai, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Nalinee Ruangrittisak, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Mr Hisao Chiba, ICT Expert, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi, Information Support Chief, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Patcharamont Phanthong, Information Support Officer, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Nantanoot Suwannawut, Information Support Officer,Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Ms Saowalak Thongkuay, Project Assistant, Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD), Bangkok

Mr Topong Kulkhanchit, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPI-AP), Nonthaburi

Ms Yuki Suzuki, Nonthaburi Society of Disabled Persons (NSDP, Nonthaburi

Ms Nareewan Chintakanond, Foundation for Asia Pacific Development Center for Disabilities (FAPCD), Committee Member, APCD, Bangkok

Mr Monthian Buntan, President, Thai Association of the Blind (TAB), Bangkok

TIMOR LESTE

Mr Laurentino Guterres, KATILOSA, Dili

UNITED KINGDOM

Mr Peter Coleridge, Consultant in Disability and Development, Llandrindod Wells

VIET NAM

Mr Tue Nghiem Xuan, Director, Office of the National Coordinating Council on Disability of Vietnam (NCCD), Hanoi

Mr Vi Hai Nam, Staff, Office of the National Coordinating Council on Disability of Vietnam (NCCD), Hanoi

Ms Le Hai Anh, American Chamber of Commerce, Project "Good for Business", Hanoi

________________

SECRETARIAT

______________

_____________

______________

ANNEX II (a)
EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES (EFA)

7 JULY 2005, BANGKOK
DRAFT MINUTES
I. OPENING OF THE MEETING

The ninth session of the Task Force on Education for all Children and Youth with Disabilities was co-chaired by Mr Bill Brohier and Ms Penny Price. The session was attended by 51 members. We welcomed a number of participants who attended for the first time. We were very pleased also to welcome Mr Ko-Chih Tung, Director of the AIMS Unit of UNESCO and two of his associates, and Mr Cliff Meyers, Regional Adviser on Education from UNICEF.

Apologies were received from Olof Sandkull and Jon Kapp of UNESCO, Khun Phoranee of Parents Association, Graham Smith and Frank Hall-Bentick of Disability Australia.

II. AND III. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda and Minutes were adopted:

1. Welcome and self introductions.
2. Adoption of the Agenda.
3. Confirmation of the Minutes of the session of TF EFA held on 1 December 2004.
4. Report of TF EFA activities.
5. Flagship on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion Formation of the Asia/Pacific Regional Flagship Working Group:
   1. TOR updated.
   2. Adoption by TF EFA of a resolution to amalgamate TF EFA with RFWG.
   3. Consideration of name change: Recommendation. TWGDC Task Force and Flagship Working Group on the Right to Education for Children and Youth with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific region (TF and RFWG on the Right to Education)
   4. Request to TWGDC to approve amalgamation of TF EFA and RFWG.
6. Report of the 5^th-6th Ad Hoc Meeting to draft text for an international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, held in New York, 24 May – 8 June 2004. IDA draft text for Article 17. 5^th Ad Hoc Meeting: 24 January – 4 February 2005; 6^th Ad Hoc Meeting 1-12 August 2005.
7. Reports from TF EFA members.
8. Other matters.

IV. REPORT OF TFA ACTIVITIES

1. Members of the Task Force have been active in advocacy roles and in the provision of technical expertise, particularly participating in a wide range of conferences and meetings related to the education of children with disabilities, including early intervention, in the region. There have been some activities at international level.

2. Activities of CBM

2.1 As an immediateresult of the Dec.26 tragedy, CBM Head Office and its Regional Offices of Central East Asia, South Asia (South), and South-East Asia sprang into action to assess the damage in the Tsunami-devastated areas of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, as well as the typhoon-torn parts of the Philippine, to mobilize some short-term relief for persons with disabilities and to draw up long-term intervention programmes.

2.2 The workshop was the result of cooperation between the National Institute for Educational Strategies and Curriculum (NIESC), Ministry of Education and Training, local organisations and INGOs. The aim of the workshop was to analyse opinions and comments to formulate the first master plan for IE throughout Vietnam.

CBM funded USD 8,000 towards the workshop. Ms Silvana Inselmann, CEARO Regional Representative, Mr Wichai Srisura, Ms Sirin Atsilarat, CEARO Programme Officers and Mr Kirk Horton, Inclusive Education Advisor, all from Bangkok, attended. The master plan would try to develop potential schools to become Resource Centres in order to share human resources and facilities, and serve as production units, for Early Intervention and Inclusive Education.

2.3 May 04-06 Roundtable III, Disability Mainstreaming in Practice: The Case of Inclusive Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This roundtable was the third of three regional roundtables held as part of the Disability Knowledge and Research programme (Disability KaR), a Department for International Development (DFID). The roundtables were organized by Healthlink Worldwide and a national disability organization in each of the countries where the roundtables took place.

It was attended by 64 participants. Among the participants were members of the inclusive education team and the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), representatives of United Nations agencies, donor organizations and mainstream international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and representatives of regional, national and grass roots disabled people's organizations (DPOs).

The discussions focused on the concepts of inclusive education, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to inclusive education (SWOT analysis) and strategies to overcome the challenges identified through the SWOT analysis.

It was noted that Cambodia has an existing law that prevents people with disabilities from becoming teachers. The Disability Action Council, Cambodia is working with the Ministry to have this law changed.

Mr Olof Sandkull/UNESCO-BKK and Ms Aiko Akiyama/UNESCAP-TWGDC made presentations, and Mr William G. Brohier represented CBM as a facilitator.

3. ICEVI (International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment)

3.1 Two Conferences, within the Asia-Pacific Region, have been held so far this year: Jan.23-27 West Asia Regional Conference in Delhi, India. Its theme was: Inclusion: Getting the Rights-Based Right Approach Right. Mr Larry Campbell, President of ICEVI, delivered the Keynote Address

February 20-23 East Asia Regional Conference in Jomtien, Thailand. The theme: Education for All - So Near and Yet So Far.

As the late Mr Lal Advani, representing the World Blind Union (WBU) and Mr William G. Brohier, as the then President of ICEVI and Regional Representative of CBM-SEAPRO, were the co-initiators who succeeded in getting Article 3.5 of the World Declaration on Education for All expanded from only:

The learning needs of the disabled demand special attention.

to the inclusion of this second crucial sentence:

Steps need to be taken to provide equal access to education to every category of disabled persons as an integral part of the education system.

Mr Brohier was invited to present the Keynote Address: Jomtien – Past, Present, and Future.

4. Flagship on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion

The Flagship has formed a third Working Group on Teacher Education, recognizing the critical role of well trained teachers to achieve the goal of inclusive education for all children, including children with disabilities. The first meeting was held in Cairo, May 2005. Ms Penny Price is a member of this Working Group.

The second meeting of the Flagship Working Group on Disability Statistics and Data will be held in Paris, 25-27 July 2005. Mr Ko-Chih Tung, AIMS Unit of UNESCO-BKK, is a key member of this working group.

The full Flagship secretariat will hold an informal meeting in New York on 29-30 July 2005. This will be the first meeting of the secretariat since its initial meeting in Uganda in November 2003.

5. UNESCO-BKK

5.1 Mr Olof Sandkull attended the Disability and Inclusive Development Conference 2004: Sharing, Learning and Building Alliances meeting held by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., 30 November -1 December 2004. He presented UNESCO Bangkok regional activities at the Education Round-table and had a table in the exhibition. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/
EXTSOCIALPROTECTION/EXTDISABILITY/
0,,contentMDK:20245996~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282699,00.html

5.2. The Toolkit for Creating Inclusive, Learning-Friendly Environments, launched by UNESCO-BKK has been or is being translated into Khmer, Vietnamese, Thai, Bhasa Indonesia, Urdo, Farsi, Karen, and Chinese. The Toolkit is being piloted and adapted in

Bhutan, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Samoa and Viet Nam.

A revised "File-binder" version of the Toolkit with references to the UN Convention and Disability Guidelines is planned.

Mr Olof Sandkull will organize a side-event during the Ad hoc committee meeting for the UN Convention: Putting the convention into practice: ensuring education for all, 5 August 2005 and Pacific Inclusive Education-workshop in Samoa, 28-30 November)

For further information: o.sandkull @ unescobkk.org

6. UNESCO-BKK/AIMS Unit

6.1 The Project to develop a Manual for Action to Include Children with Disabilities in School Systems and in the EFA Monitoring System held a Writers' Review Workshop in Bangkok, 6-10 June 2005. It was attended by 50 people from the 5 countries in which case studies had been conducted, with representatives from government, schools, organizations of persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, university teacher training professionals, NGOs engaged in inclusive education in the region, and experts. It included a large contingent from Thailand. The outcome of the Workshop was a series of recommendations from the perspectives of Government, School personnel, and other stakeholders including persons with disabilities, parents, community members, on issues of concern in the provision of education to children with disabilities. These issues included national policy, legislation, budgetary allocation, education providers, administration and implementation, multisectoral collaboration, the structure of the school system, teacher education, data, statistics, definitions, monitoring and evaluation, and the collaborative role of organizations of persons with disabilities, family members, parents organizations and community members. These recommendations will be incorporated into the Manual on Guidelines for Action which are currently in preparation. Penny and Bill were two of the resource persons at the Workshop and Penny is engaged in writing the Manual.

6.2 UNESCO-BKK TWG EFA

Ms Aiko Akiyama, Ms Penny Price and Mr William G. Brohier attended the TWG EFA meeting held on 3 June 2005 and presented a report on the activities of TF EFA and the Flagship on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion. The report on Flagship activities is attached.

1. Upcoming events

• Meeting of the Flagship Working Group on Disability Statistics and Indicators, Paris, 25-27 July 2005
• Informal meeting of the Flagship secretariat, New York 29-30 July 2005
• 6^th Ad Hoc meeting on the UN Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New York, 1-12 August 2005
• ISEC 2005, Glasgow 1-4 August 2005
• Pacific Forum Secretariat Meeting on Disability, Nadi Fiji, 1-4 August 2005
• International Symposium on Inclusion in, Indonesia 26-29 September 2005
• Leonard Cheshire/UNESCAP International Conference in Bangkok 17-18 October, 2005
• UNESCO Pacific Meeting on Inclusive Education, 28-30 November, Samoa
• The 12^th World Conference of ICEVI will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 16-21, 2006. Its theme: Achieving Equality in Education: New Challenges and Strategies for Change

Deadline for receipt of Abstracts: September 15, 2005.

Please refer to the attached flyer for further details, and visit the website: www.icevi.org for full information about all three of the ICEVI Conference, as well as ICEVI itself.

• This is the Second Call for Papers inviting you to submit a paper to the 4th International Conference on Information Technology in Asia (CITA'05) which will be held in the capital of Sarawak - Kuching, Malaysia from 12-15, December 2005.

CITA'05 (http://www.cita05.org) provides a platform to bring together researchers and practitioners from different research descriptions and fields of industry, to contribute to a pool of knowledge and experience as well as to collaborate in addressing the issues of applying, integrating and monitoring the ubiquitous computing. Thus, The theme of the conference for this time is Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing: Computing Anytime, for Everyone.

V. FLAGSHIP ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: TOWARDS INCLUSION

Background

At the first meeting of the Flagship Steering Committee in November 2003 terms of reference were prepared for the formation of a Flagship Working Group in the Asian and Pacific region. This is the first regional Flagship Working Group formed, and it was in recognition of the fact that TF EFA had in fact been performing the advocacy role of such a working group.

One of the strategies recommended for the Working Group was that it form a partnership with TF EFA. Many of the activities in the suggested action plan have already been carried out by TF EFA, with its partners, or are in progress. The goals and strategies of the two entities are identical. Discussion on this issue had taken place at the last two meetings of TF EFA.

Discussion on the Flagship issue suggested that more agencies than those nominated currently as part of the Coordinating body would be interested in being involved. This confirmed the interest that had been shown in December 2004. TF EFA adopted a resolution to merge TF EFA with the regional Flagship Working Group to form one entity. TF EFA would seek approval from TWGDC to become the TWGDC Task Force and Flagship Working Group on the Right to Education for Children and Youth with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region (TF and RFWG on the Right to Education).

The recommended organization would be as follows:

A coordinating body or secretariat consisting of RI Education Commission and RI Asia/Pacific, CBM, (Currently Co-Chairs of TF EFA), UNESCAP and UNESCO Bangkok will organize and co-chair joint meetings of TF EFA and the Regional Flagship Working Group for Asia and the Pacific (RFWG), and will undertake secretariat tasks.

Meetings of the Regional Flagship Working Group (RFWG) will be held jointly with TF EFA, within the framework of TWGDC, in accordance with the schedule of UNESCAP. Any additional meetings or activities will be organized by the joint TF EFA and RFWG secretariatwithout any expectation of UNESCAP support.

The secretariat of the joint TF EFA and RFWG will act as the link between the Flagship secretariat (UNESCO-HQ and University of Oslo) and the Working Group in terms of coordinating activities in the region in liaison with other partners.

The combined TF EFA and the RFWG will report to TWGDC (UNESCAP), TWG EFA (UNESCO-BKK) and to the Flagship secretariat (UNESCO-HQ and University of Oslo).

The Flagship sees the formation of regional Working Groups as one of its key strategies for achieving the goal of education for all persons with disabilities. It is hoped that the Asian and Pacific region will provide a model in this regard, in much the same way that the Asian and Pacific Decade has done in the African and Arab region.

VI. REPORT OF THE 5^TH AD HOC MEETING TO DRAFT TEXT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, HELD IN NEW YORK, 24 MAY-8 JUNE 2004. IDA DRAFT TEXT FOR ARTICLE 17; 5^TH AD HOC MEETING:

24 JANUARY-4 FEBRUARY 2005; 6^TH AD HOC MEETING 1-12 AUGUST 2005

Ms Heidi Forrest reported that there were some contentious aspects in the draft text, particularly concerning issues of alternative modes of communication. Mr J.B. Munro received strong support for his statement that with 80 per cent of disabled children living in rural areas they must be able to go to local community schools. UNICEF also spoke in favour of an inclusive approach and said that the link with support to students and teachers in regular schools must be strengthened. Heidi will attend the 6^th Ad Hoc meeting.

VII. REPORTS FROM TF EFA MEMBERS

UNICEF

We were very pleased to welcome Mr Cliff Meyers to the meeting.

Mr Meyers reported that UNICEF had a new Director and that there was renewed emphasis on inclusive education and children with disabilities. Mr Meyers was concerned that inclusive education was becoming a catch-all for a wide range of children and that this was detracting from the focus on children with disabilities. He said that regional resources in the East Asia and Pacific region would be used to encourage country level advocacy linked inclusive education.

Mr William G. Brohier (Bill) reported on an initiative of the WBU and ICEVI who attended the NGO Committee on UNICEF on June 4, 2005. WBU was also representing other organizations which were unable to be present: Inclusion International, Rehabilitation International, and the Canadian Association for Community Living.

A Brief on shared concerns regarding children with disabilities was presented (See file: ICEVI.WBU UNICEF Briefing Note June 2005.doc Annex A). The proposal to have an NGO Committee Working Group on Children with Disabilities was unanimously agreed upon. This was a very important step for us as we have the full support of the NGO Committee. The Working Group will be made up of the World Blind Union, ICEVI, Inclusion International, and CACL, as well as other interested parties. The goal will be to work toward the inclusion of children with disabilities in all of UNICEF's programmes.

On 6 June 2005 a meeting was held with Ms Alexandra Yuster who has the full responsibility of children with disabilities under the category of Protection. It was a very successful meeting. Ms Yuster spoke of the Guidance Note on Childhood Disability that she was involved in writing last year with the consultation of many interested parties. The hope is to distribute the Note to all UNICEF programmes and have children with disabilities included across the board. Ms Yuster agreed to be the Working Group on Children with Disabilities link person with UNICEF. Ways were discussed in which to partner with UNICEF. Two important ways in which we might be able to work together were discussed. The first is in gathering data on the numbers of children with disabilities

Finally a meeting was held with Ms Ann Veneman, new Executive Director of UNICEF. There were about 25 organizations represented, many with the CEO present. Each had the opportunity to tell her about their organization concerns for UNICEF, and spoke on behalf of all children with disabilities and about blind children in particular. She showed interest in all the organizations. There is a need to show up at as many UNICEF meetings as possible to maintain a high level of attention on this issue. The climate has changed in UNICEF in favor of children with disabilities.

Government of India

The Director, Ministry of Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, Ms Mridul Jain reported on the new policy on inclusive education in India, for children with disabilities from 6-14 years, with defined budgetary support for each child for assistive devices and mobility training and other supports. This included the establishment of 25 District Disability Centres which would train teachers in their district.

Inclusive education

There was extensive discussion on the parameters of inclusive education; with a dilemma described by Joseph in Hong Kong as to whether separate policy should be developed to ensure education for children with dyslexia, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders. Cliff (UNICEF) reported that in Laos the IE program was now considering girls and under-nourished children as part of its targets and he warned again about diluting the focus from children with disabilities.

Teacher training was seen, as a key factor for success but examples of teachers with special training being removed from classes with children with disabilities is counter productive and a waste of limited human resources. There is a need for advocacy for more training of teachers in special education, both pre-and in-service training. Resources are a major issue.

Mr Ko-Chih Tung reported on the problems of data and statistics, with complete lack of data on children with disabilities and education. WHO health statistics were too elaborate, requiring clinical analysis. Old style household surveys did not gain information related to education sector and were hard to analyse.

School statistics consisted of little more than a simple count. Some countries are trying to incorporate specific questions on children with disabilities. The UNICEF MICS surveys cannot be used without a panel of medical specialists. There is a need to develop a pragmatic/functional/participatory approach. Research is on-going under the work of the Flagship Working Group on Disability Statistics and Indicators.

Mr Ko-Chih Tung requested that anyone with data on children with disabilities send it to him: kc.tung@unescobkk.org

Mr J.B. Munro reported on the very effective surveys undertaken in several Pacific countries by Inclusion International with local participation.

The meeting concluded at 10.30 and it was agreed that the participants were willing to continue in the 08.00 time slot.

Appendix A

BRIEFING NOTE

UNICEF and Children with Disabilities: Moving Forward With Inclusion Prepared Jointly by the World Blind Union, Inclusion International, the Canadian Association for Community Living, and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment, and handed to the UNICEF NGO Committee and the new Executive Director of UNICEF, Jun.4-7, 2005.

UNICEF, with the support of the NGO Committee, should increase its focus on children with disabilities. This will enable UNICEF, as the lead agency for children, to better promote and advance the human rights and full inclusion of children with disabilities in its policies, programmes and partnerships.

Please consider that:

• Children with disabilities make up approximately 10 per cent of the world's child population (approximately 200 million); an estimated 80 per cent of whom live in developing countries;
• Less than 2 per cent attend school;
• An estimated 40 million of the 115 million children not in school have a disability;
• Children with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty.

• Mortality for children with disabilities may be high as 80 per cent in countries where under-five mortality as a whole has decreased to below 20 per cent;
• Young girls with disabilities are at an increased risk for AIDS/HIV infection because of assumptions that they are not sexually active and education campaigns do not target them.

The challenges:

Children who have a disability are consistently among the world's poorest and most disadvantaged children. They face the double disadvantage of being both children and a person with a disability. The realization of their human rights requires strategies to promote inclusion in the home with their families, in their communities and in systems of education, early child development and health.

Children with disabilities have been largely invisible in international efforts and initiatives, even those specifically targeted at children. For example, UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2005 does not address the issue of disability in any great detail. Without the inclusion of children with disabilities many international initiatives, such as the MDGs and Education for All, cannot be achieved. Currently, UN states parties are negotiating the development of a UN Convention on Disability. A critical question that remains unanswered is whether or not the Convention will contain a specific article on children with disabilities. In this regard we need the help and support of UNICEF.

Where children with disabilities are mentioned in the above initiatives, disability is often presented from a medical model understanding of disability. This broader monitoring framework often does not incorporate specific targets and indicators on children with disabilities. Without these, policies and programmes are often not held accountable for inclusion. Further, statistical information on children with disabilities has not been collected in a coordinated manner. Data collection on issues such as education often do not include questions on disability. These gaps in information present challenges to civil society, multilateral organizations and governments. Again, UNICEF can play a fundamental role in achieving these goals.

Ideas and mechanisms:

• Include disability as a cross-cutting issue in UNICEF's MTSP – while the current draft of the MTSP does mention disability as a component of a cross-cutting strategy, children with disabilities are largely missing in key areas throughout the document. In particular:
  • The five focus areas should explicitly recognize children with disabilities. For example, Young Child Survival and Development should recognize the gap in improvements of under-five mortality rates for children with disabilities. Specific efforts will be needed to decrease the gap between children with and without disabilities. Basic Education should recognize that, according to the World Bank, disability may be the single most important factor in the exclusion of a child from schooling. As such, specific efforts will be needed to ensure that education for all really does mean all.
  • A social model approach to disability should underlie discussions on disability. Disability should not be confined to just the medical perspective presented in the document. While some disabilities are a result of malnutrition, iron deficiency etc., the document should reflect that disability is a naturally occurring form of diversity.
  • Targets and indicators on disability should be incorporated.
  • Strategic intent and organization targets should reflect an understanding of disability issues and a commitment to act.
  • Key results should include specific goals for children with disabilities.
• Commit to a focus on disability in strengthening alliances within the UN family and beyond – the MTSP commits UNICEF to strengthening alliances within the UN family and beyond. As the voice for children, children with disabilities rely on UNICEF to bring their issues, voices and needs to these partnerships. In particular, where disability-specific issues are being discussed, such as at the World Bank, the UNESCO Flagship on Education for All and the UN Convention on Disability, UNICEF should be an active participant.
• Establish an NGO Committee Working Group on Disability – such a working group could explore strategic ways in which children with disabilities can get a higher profile within UNICEF. The Working Group could provide advice and assistance in developing and incorporating targets and indicators on disability and provide direction in including children with disabilities in UNICEF documents, such as the State of the World's Children. Working Group members could connect with others, such as the World Bank Disability Advisor, to work collaboratively on shared issues. The Working Group could act as the vehicle for implementing the first two mechanisms identified above.

Conclusion:

Children with disabilities need a champion in UNICEF. The extreme marginalization of children with disabilities results in their invisibility in policy and programme development, and in monitoring and public reporting. UNICEF is in a key position to promote and advance the human rights and full inclusion of children with disabilities and to provide both a profile and priority to the issues of exclusion and marginalization facing children with disabilities throughout the world. The continued exclusion of children with disabilities represents a real threat to achieving international initiatives and true progress in their development. Inclusive approaches to children's rights are the only way to achieve progress for all. Most importantly, UNICEF can play a key role in achieving these goals - thank you!

List of attendance

Attendance sheet, 7 July 2005

Education

ANNEX II (b)

EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION TASK FORCE

7 JULY 2005, BANGKOK

I. OPENING OF THE MEETING

Ms Debra Perry, ILO, chaired the meeting and welcomed participants. Each participant introduced him or herself. Forty-five individuals representing UN agencies, governments and DPOs participated in the meeting. (See appendix 1 for list of all attendees). The agenda was adopted (see paragraph 2). Mr Bryan Woodford took meeting notes.

II and III. ADOPTION

The Chairman presented the following agenda, which was approved by those in attendance:

1. Welcome and self-introductions

2. Adoption of the agenda

3. Approval of the prior meeting Minutes

4. Update on activities

(a) MNC Roundtable Meeting with outcomes, follow-up and employer resource manual

(b) CBR Meeting with outcomes and follow-up required

5. Reports of activities, especially related to BMF targets * UN agencies and country level

6. Old issues

(a) Government as a model employer

(b) Intern to collect information

(c) More attention to credit/self-employment

7. New business

(1) The Minutes from the Employment and Poverty Alleviation Task Force meeting held on 1^st December 2004 were reviewed. The Chairperson suggested that references to companies should be deleted. This would be appropriate since in some cases employers were never contacted by TWG members and it could appear that they declined to participate. This was approved. Otherwise the meeting minutes were confirmed.

(2) Debra briefed the Task Force members on the ILO/ESCAP Multinational Corporation Roundtable on Disability and Employment. In addition to the presence of fourteen companies, many of whom sent multiple representatives, two employers' organizations representatives attended resulting in a total of 25 business representatives. An overview of the agenda and outcomes were reviewed. Task force members who attended the shared their opinions about the event, which were overwhelming positive. The meeting was seen as a beneficial forum for stakeholders to learn from each other and an opportunity to launch partnerships.

(3) The representative from the Indian Government not that India is trying to come to terms with it high unemployment rates; and with many disabled persons in rural areas the challenges is great. The representative particularly was encouraged by the inputs from IBM and Nike. The government discussed the need to bring the message back to India and suggested replicating the meeting at national levels. Later in the meeting, several other representatives also discussed replicating the meeting at a national level.

(4) Ms Debra Perry noted that multinationals can be approached from two perspectives, using Nike in Viet Nam as an example. From the social responsibility perspective, Nike encourages and supports women's projects. From the business case, a Nike subcontractor hires many workers with disabilities and Nike promotes this as a best case. However, she also noted that multinational companies typically take their obligations to abide by national labour laws seriously. In Viet Nam, the laws restricting the working hours to 7 hours per day, makes the factory hiring of so many disabled persons quite remarkable.

(5) Ms Pecharat Techavachara noted that the theme of "Unlocking Potential" was a good choice since it promoted people with disabilities not as a burden, but as an asset to be released. He met with and plans to follow-up with two of the companies that expressed willingness to employer disabled persons.

(6) Ms Debra Perry noted that many of the companies were not aware of what was happening at the country level and gave some examples about companies that learned about how some of their outlets or offices at the country level where hiring working with disabilities. This internal awareness raising was one of the benefits of the Roundtable.

(7) A representative from Cambodia Trust commented that Mr Mark Bagshaw was an excellent role model, demonstrating that people with disabilities can aspire to top jobs.

(8) Government representatives from the Philippines and Indonesia shared their feelings about the Roundtable. The former found it a good forum for governments to listen and learn and noted that it presented opportunities that could be expanded. The Indonesian representative met several company representatives and hopes it will be an opportunity to establish student sponsorships.

(9) A representative from Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh discussed the many of the people with disabilities were in rural areas and unemployed and further shared that she found it easier to promote blind persons to employers because they had skills.

(10) The Chair noted the opportunities for rural activities even among multinationals, using the Marriott/Hong Chi example and the possibilities it presents. Marriott is helping Hong Chi grow herbs and organic vegetables, which it then purchases for use in its hotels. It also purchases and distributes certain handicrafts items. This model could be replicated in tourist and eco-tourism areas. Ms Deborah Wan from Hong Kong, China, further described the relationship that results in people with intellectual disabilities getting training in housekeeping and baking. Others noted that hotels could hire blind masseurs and that airports presented another work opportunity for blind masseurs. The FAO representative noted that blind people can grow mushrooms and make incense sticks used in temples and offered that he can help make contacts with large number of community groups in this regard.

(11) Several meeting participants noted that NGOs have to respond to the companies' needs from a marketing perspective, especially by offering training to disabled persons according to the employer's needs. Ms Debra Perry brought up the example of Sri Lanka where the Employers' Federation of Ceylon in Sri Lanka works with Motivation and NGO, another example from the Roundtable to meet employer hiring needs by screening and matching appropriate job candidates and helping with training and follow-up.

(12) Ms Debra Perry discussed some of the meeting outcomes and suggestions. Some of the key follow-up points, which had been part of the Roundtable conclusions, were reviewed and discussed, including the following:

(13) Replicating the meeting at national levels.

(14) Becoming more proactive with employers and market responsive.

(15) Determining meeting impact. Debra repeated her intention to follow-up with all the participants for one year.

(16) Organizing a meeting in one year's time to review the progress and impact of the first Roundtable. There was general consensus that this would be a good idea. It was also noted that one of the companies (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) suggested that each of the MNCs should bring one other company to the next such event.

(17) Establishing a permanent network of companies interested in disability and development. Debra will take this up.

(18) Making the "disability mentoring" programme permanent. At the Roundtable, each company was paired with a disability expert to make sure they met the right people and to answer their questions. It was noted that this type of relationship could be on a permanent basis. A list of interested mentors was collected.

(19) Collecting additional examples of good practices among companies.

(20) Continuing to develop the Resource Manual for Employers which was drafted for the Roundtable meeting.

(21) Ms Aiko Akiyama briefed the participants on the CBR workshop that was held the 5 and 6July. Seventy persons attended the first day and 20 the second day, the latter being more informal in nature. The workshop focused on the conceptual CBR framework as well as topics such as mobilizing financial and human resources, networking, sharing innovative ideas and methods to assist self-help organizations. A joint statement on CBR and other community initiatives was prepared. It was distributed at the meeting.

(22) The participants discussed various aspects of the CBR meeting and the continued development of the model. The WHO representative (Chapel) noted that the meeting was a great opportunity to promote how CBR is evolving over time. A CBR matrix was presented at the meeting that needs to be promoted and used. It requires a multidisciplinary approach that must be responsive to multiple disabilities. He noted the difficulty in bringing the stakeholders together but said it can be done. A workshop involving UNESCO, WHO, FAO, ILO, ESCAP and others is needed. He also cautioned that the corporations should not be involved unless the field is prepared to follow-up and follow-up effectively with suitable job candidates.

(23) Other meeting participants supported Chapal's views. The WHO representative added that cooperatives should be brought to the table as well.

(24) With regard to reports of activities related to the BMF, Ms Debra Perry gave some selected activities:

(25) The Alleviating Poverty through Peer Training programme in Cambodia, which uses informal peer trainers and financial supports to help disabled persons start businesses, has a new component to serve women and families affected by disability.

(26) The ILO and Korean Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled initiated a fellowship programme that provided training on policy development in June and would conduct another two-week programme in July related to vocational training. This is a significant development since it marks the introduction of the Korean government as a disability donor and participant in international cooperation in the region.

(27) China held a meeting on employment injury insurance; it programme includes rehabilitation provisions. It was also noted that CDPF in Shanghai and the ILO are holding a training session on organizing and following-up on an employer awareness workshop. Shanghai CDPF will hold such a workshop in the next couple of months.

(28) The ILO has conducted many other national level activities to promote BMF actions and principles, such as sponsoring a study tour on policy for a delegation from Laos and funding a disability advisor in Afghanistan for one year.

(29) A new ILO publication was published by headquarters and it was displayed. It is guidelines for drafting employment promotion legislation.

(30) It was noted that Fiji ratified ILO Convention 159 and that Cambodia, Thailand and Sri Lanka Ministers of Labour have expressed interest in doing so as well. A national meeting on C. 159 was held in Sri Lanka in February.

(31) FAO: Mr Wim Polman from the FAO noted a project in Sri Lanka that is building on established experiences in Thailand and that the FAO is planning a new wood project in Cambodia. A Korean project is also focusing on mushroom-growing for farmers.

(32) Philippines: Ms Catalina L. Fermin noted that the Philippines developed a national plan of action in response to the BMF and will conduct a biennial assessment. She also noted ICT training that is being undertaken and described a national congress on women with disabilities.

(33) Hong Kong, China: Ms Deborah Wan reported on many activities in Hong Kong, China include grants fro organizations that employment people with disabilities. More than 30 project have been funded that engage people with disabilities in community-based work such as car washing groups and restaurants. She noted the growing interest in social enterprises as a means to reduce welfare dependency and increase self-reliance. Mr Philip Chi-Hoi Yuen noted that disabled persons can be hired to Disneyland which will open shortly in Hong Kong, China. He also reported a conference held in March by people with mental illness. It was highly successful and attended by 300 delegates.

(34) 21. Bangladesh: Ms Lima Dewan noted BRAC activities in ICT training that is resulting in job.

(35) For trainees and the desire to start a poultry farm.

(36) 22. Sri Lanka: Megamali Aluwihare from the Employers' Federation further described the network on disability and noted that several trainings are underway, e.g. on job seeking skills and English-language training for disabled persons. She noted that rural areas are now being targeted and that a breakfast meeting with the CEOs will be organized to disseminate the information on the business case of hiring disabled persons.

(37) 23. Cambodia: Mr Ngy San from the Disability Action Council (DAC) noted that the Cambodian Government is committed to the activities laid down in the BMF and its targets have been incorporated into the government's five-year plan. A national forum will be held in August.

(38) 24. India: The Government is concentrating on three areas: Rights of people with disabilities, accessibility, and developing service centres across the country to provide localized services. Each state has a "disability-friendly" building, which serves as an example of how to achieve accessibility.

(39) 25. Eden Social Welfare Foundation: Emma Lee noted that her organization has initiated discussions with a gas station chain to employ people with disabilities in shops. She also noted the international conference held in Taiwan Province of China last May on accessible tourism, noting that the tourism industry presents many opportunities for the employment of people with disabilities.

40) Indonesia: Mr Robinson W. Saragih noted that eight programmes have been developed in response to the Decade. He also noted that in response to the tsunami disaster that many new buildings will be made accessible.

41) Debra noted several old business issues that had not been addressed, in particular issue that had been raised in prior meeting to consider the BMF call for government to be model employers and a desire to discuss micro-credit programmes.

(42) A discussion ensued about how to take up these and other issues at future meetings. It was suggested that an educational session be incorporated into future meetings. Mr Wim Polman was called upon to bring the International Cooperative Alliance or the Asian Confederation of Asian Credit Unions to a future meeting. Deborah Wan offered to conduct a presentation or even a workshop on social enterprises. No December meeting is scheduled, however. The next TWG meeting is not scheduled until June 2006, which will be the scheduled date for the next Multinational Corporation Roundtable as well.

(43) The meeting closed at 1:00 PM.

Attendance Sheet, 7^th July

Employment

ANNEX II (c)

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

7 JULY 2005, BANGKOK

Draft Minutes

I. OPENING

The TWGDC ICT Task Force was chaired by Mr. Monthian Buntan.

II. SELF-INTRODUCTION BY ALL PARTICIPANTS

III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting was adopted.

IV. DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION OF THE MEETING AGENDA

The minutes of the meeting agenda was adopted.

V. REPORTS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AND PROGRESS

(a) From the Chairperson

With regard to the UN Asian Tsunami Disaster on 26 December 2004 and the United Nations sponsored meeting on The World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan in January 2005, several ICT for persons with disability professions joined this meeting. An accessible warning system was discussed and voiced in this meeting.

Brief report of the 5^th Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (24 January – 4 February 2005) was made and copies of the draft article 13: Freedom to Expression and Opinion, and Access to Information, which involves information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities, were shared.

Report of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Phase II, III Preparatory Committee meeting (17-27 February 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland) was made to prepare for the Phase II, III meeting, to be held in Geneva in September 2005. More information of the meeting could be obtained from the Civil Society Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (www.itu.int)

Brief report of the UNESCAP/ICSTD Sub-regional Conference on Follow-up to the 1^st Phase and Preparation for the 2^nd Phase of the WSIS was made. At the Conference, the development of the Asia-Pacific Region Roadmap on ICT was discussed and the concept of information accessibility & Universal Design were introduced. The next meeting will be held in September, 2005.

The Chairperson attended the Asia-Pacific Region Telecom Summit hosted by ITU held in Bangkok, Thailand.

A seminar on ubiquitous network was hosted by ITU and the Government of Japan.

For the situation in Thailand, a new accessibility standard is in the pending status for the Government Support proposed by the working group committee under the Rehabilitation Committee and more suggestions on the ICT accessibility terminology. NECTEC adopt the proposal and submit to the cabinet the establishment of the Institute of Universal Design and Assistive Device Technology.

(b) From the participants

Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi, APCD reported the progress of information support and the development of ICT for Persons with Disabilities implemented by the Center. Ms Nantanoot Suwannawut reported on the ICT for Visual Impaired Persons/for All hosted by APCD. (For further details please visit http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/newsletter10/vip.html and

http://www.apcdproject.org/publications/newsletter11/daisy.html

Mr Joseph Kwok mentioned about the WSIS thematic working group on "multistakeholders" held by the Government of Korea and ITU. Discussions and concerns were focused on digital divide and range of communication devices and how resources will be delivered information centers in the rural area. The Government of Korea supports information technology index, while consultant insert indicators of telephone users, broadband line, and the ICT infrastructure. The Digital Divide has also stated to hold up substantial population.

The Korea Agency on Digital Opportunity & Promotion (KADO), a specialized government subsidiary organization providing comprehensive support for digital divide closure was introduced to the Task Force on their involvement on mainstreaming. It was suggested that the ICT Task Force should contact KADO in related to the promotion of ICT friendly-user and community-based approach to support the BMF in engaging proactive organization in digital divide to be involved in the review and to be more concern in ICT for persons with disabilities.

Mr William G. Brohier, Christoffel-Blindenmission, announced the 4^th International Conference on Information Technology in Asia, 2005, which will be held from 12-15 December 2005 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia hosted by the University of Malaysia, Sarawak. (For further information please visit http://www.cita05.org)

The Thailand Association of the Blind will be providing a telephone base DAISY playback service, which will be install to allow persons with print disability to dial with touch tone and to navigate the DAISY. This will be open source software around the nation and to all persons with disabilities collaborating with the ASEAN TELSOM free of charge. In addition to this, TAB established a radio channel, 98.25 FM, which will also be broadcasted on the organization's website for 1 year providing disability-related news.

(c) Follow-ups from the previous Meeting

Update on WSIS and Potential Contribution to Persons with Disabilities

Chairperson: The major topic for Phase II, which will be held from 17-19 December 2005 in Tunis has not been concluded. Disability communication and the concept of ICT accessibility were proposed in Phase I to be included in the Declaration. Phase II's tentative issues will focus on internet governance, digital solidarity fund, cyber security, and the needs to popularize the disability. A Global Forum sponsored by ITU, Government of Switzerland, DAISY, International Disability Alliance will be held from 16-18 December 2005, which the conclusion will be presented to the WSIS Phase II on the 17 December roundtable meeting facilitated by the Chairperson. All documents will be circulated to state leaders expecting more participation from developing countries in the region.

Ubiquitous Network presents the theme of "Working anywhere anytime with anyone"

Mr Joseph Kwok: The WSIS Phase II in Tunis will give concerns on "Digital Divide" with persons with disabilities adding the issues on "collaboration" with business in the field of ICT to promote the importance and awareness of persons with disabilities in the ICT area through the organizations' own training course

Chairperson: Added to Mr. Joseph Kwok that IBM engages in disability issues. Digital Divide costs in the accessibility in the technology. The economic hardship and inaccessibility causing more people to get more involve into digital divide.

Discussion on How to Promote Implementation of ICT Accessibility following the BMF

Chairperson: Entering into the 4^th year of the BMF, many targets are still struggling on how to be implemented. A survey may be necessary to follow-up the implementations of Target Area: "Access to Information and Communications, including, information, communication and assistive technologies, which one proposal is to be presented at this Task Force meeting.

An accessibility guideline was passed in 2003 but not mandate or regulated in any Government legislation. For target 19 (Governments should develop and coordinate a standardized sign language, finger Braille (tactile sign language), in each country and disseminate and teach the results through all means, i.e. publications, CD-ROMs, etc.), many nations have developed their national sign language. As for Target 20 (Governments should establish a system in each country to train and dispatch sign language interpreters, Braille transcribers, finger Braille interpreters, and human readers and to encourage their productive employment.)

Mr Khandaker Jahurul Alam from Bangladesh, reported that the Bangla sign language and Braille have been developed.

Mr Moses from Malaysia reported that Malaysia has endorsed and launched a Braille book. However, sign language used is still considered to be unofficial sign language known as Q-speech to get local sound recognized.

Ms Catalina L. Fermin from the Philippines reported that the Philippines is making progress on the BMF framework developing sign language, which a workshop was held last month by one organization for the hearing impairment. Sign language used basis on the American Sign Language. In December, 2004, and June, 2005, Mr. Leo Valdez provided training for webmasters and planning to further continue ICT trainings for persons with disabilities in all provinces.

Chairperson reported that Thailand has been successful in converting text into speech however more development is needed for speech recognition and web accessibility. The standards and know-hows are out there but no implementation. Many website in the region are still considered to be inaccessible.

Mr Moses from Malaysia added that a Malaysian company along with engineers from Hong Kong are developing speech texts in Malay and Mandarin and further developing Malay local text-speech use for telephone applications.

Chairperson suggested that a Regional Hub of the development should be formulated since many current attempts are concentrated in EU language.

Proposal Monitoring Survey of the BMF Priority Area 6 by Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) (Annex)

1. Representative of JSRPD proposed the Survey of Access to Information and Communication the aim, process, organization for operation, development of database, and analysis. However, JSRPD would facilitate the development of the database and the analysis part since JSRPD may not be able to cover all the funding of the whole tasks.

2. Chairperson appreciated JSRPD to take action in this task.

3. Mr Joseph Kwok appreciated JSRPD proposal and suggested that the design of the survey is very important especially to fit into the digital target automatically process by computer. Regarding to this, he suggested the TWGDC to help design the survey and may be sent out by the UNESCAP.

4. Chairperson suggested to bring the proposal for approval to the TWGDC plenary and to be a supplementary to the main survey of UNESCAP. In principle the ICT Task Force approves this proposal by JSRPD to analysis collaborating with UNESCAP and APCD.

Further Recommendations of the ICT Accessibility from the 5^th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Chairperson shared this report in the Chairperson's Report referring to Draft Article 13.

(For further details please visit: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc5reporte.htm.)

(d) Situation of the ICT Accessibility Standard at the International Level

(e) Others:

Chairperson: From the Asian Tsunami Disaster teaches a long lesson, in the term of ICT accessibility for the Preparedness of the Natural Disaster.

Adjourn

Attendance Sheet, 7th July

ICT

ANNEX II (d)

WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES (WWD)

7 JULY 2005, BANGKOK

Draft Minutes

I. WELCOME AND SELF-INTRODUCTION

The Task Force on women with disability was chaired by Ms Farida Yesmin from Bangladesh

II. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES AND THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA

The Minutes of the previous meeting was adopted.

1. Welcome and Self-introduction

2. Adoption of meeting Minutes and the provisional agenda.

3. Report from different participants.

4. Discussion on the BMF implementation .

III. REPORTS FROM PARTICIPANTS

Ms Chiharu Kondo of the UNICEF briefed on its project on promoting girls education, entitled "United Nations Girls' Education Initiatives (UNGEI)". The Task Force recommended that UNGEI incorporate girls with disabilities as its targets because the initiatives currently do not seem to do so. The Task Force also recommended that girls with disabilities be strategically incorporated in other UNICEF projects, and data on girls with disabilities be collected. The Task Force also decided to formulate recommendations for the forthcoming UNICEF meeting to be held in Paris, France. It was also noted that the national programme should be prepared concerning the Article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC).

Ms Heidi Forrest from Australia reported that she had attended previous sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee on the proposed international convention on disability, and said that issues of women with disabilities had obtained enough attention from member states. She also informed, in Australia, issues of women with disabilities were not adequately addressed by mainstream gender movement, probably owing to the fact that NGOs on monitoring the Beijing Platform for Action do not properly integrate them. It was also recommended that the issues of women with disabilities be included in the draft UN convention as a separate and an independent article.

V. DISCUSSION ON THE BMF IMPLEMENTATION

Chairperson briefed on recent Bangladesh development on mainstreaming disabled women's issues in development activities both in disability and women. First of all, projects on anti-discrimination of women with disabilities (relating to the target #4 of the BMF) were implemented.

Secondly, the National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) and Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA) are actively encouraging disabled women's development and their equal rights. Ms Penny Price of the Rehabilitation International reported that in Fiji, she had witnessed improvement on inclusion of women with disabilities in national women's organizations. This relates to the BMF target #5.

Thirdly, the National Women Alliance Day Observation Committee organized a commemorative programme on the International Women's Day, 8 March 2005 with full participation of women with disabilities.

As for considering mainstreaming of women with disabilities at the regional level, it was also decided that an official letter should be sent to Ms. Thelma Kay, Director of Emerging Social Issues Division of UNESCAP with recommendations that women with disabilities issues should be included in Thematic Working Group on Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality, organized by the Gender and Development Section of the Emerging Social Issues Division.

It was reported that Disability Discrimination Ordinance was enacted and has been enforced since 1995 in Hong Kong, China, and this covers women with disabilities. Therefore, the BMF target #3 which encouraged establishment of anti-discrimination measure on women with disabilities, was already achieved in Hong Kong, China.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attendance Sheet,7^th July

Women with Disabilities/ Self-Help Organizations

ANNEX II (e)

PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

7 JULY 2005, BANGKOK

Draft Minutes

I. OPENING

Thirty-two individuals participated in the TF meeting.

II. INTRODUCTION OF PARTICIPANTS

The meeting was chaired by Mr Monthien Buntan and Ms Aiko Akiyama.

III. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONAL AGENDA WERE ADOPTED

Provisional Agenda

1. Opening.

2. Introduction of participants.

3. Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting.

4. Reports on relevant activities to date:

4.1 From the chairperson;

4.2 From participants.

5. Discussion.

6. Closing.

VI. REPORTS ON RELEVANT ACTIVITIES

UNESCAP secretariat briefed on two forthcoming ESCAP meetings about the international convention; namely, a Workshop on Regional Follow-up to the Fifth Session and Preparation for the Sixth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (to be held 26-27 July 2005, Bangkok) covering five provisional agenda including disability-inclusive international cooperation, and a side event during a coffee break on 11 August 2005 about international cooperation at the Sixth Session. Participants for the side event include Japanese and Thai Government delegates and members of leading international NGOs.

Mr Monthian Buntan briefed on the progress made since the Fifth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee (held 24 January to 4 February 2005):

From the Chairperson

By the end of the Fifth Session, the articles from 7 to 15 have been negotiated.

The second reading for the articles from 16 to 25 has not taken place, and is likely to be skipped over to the informal consultation during the Sixth Session;

There is growing uncertainty over issues such as the following:

- Ambassador H.E. Mr Gallegos is no longer chairing the Ad Hoc Session. Ambassador H.E. Mr Mackey (NZ) will coordinate the Sixth Session. But his roles remain unclear.

- Ongoing UN structural reform might have impacts on the process.

- The timing of completion of the drafting process. NGOs and developing countries want it as soon as possible; some developed countries anticipate that it might take three to five years.

Contentious issues include:

- Previously contentious issues such disability-inclusive international cooperation and establishment of monitoring mechanism are gaining more support.

- New rights such as legal capacity, forced institutionalization and intervention are contentious.

- Sectoral contentious issues such as special education vs specialized/separate education, health vs rehabilitation, involvement of family from human rights perspective and rights of special groups, particularly, women with disabilities. A separate article of rights of women with disabilities proposed by ROK is acceptable.

- Politically motivated contentious issues such as right to life and rights of persons with disabilities under armed conflict and occupied territories.

From participants

The participants shared national level efforts concerning the international convention:

- In collaboration with UNESCAP, the first national workshop on the international convention was organized by the National Forum of NGOs for Persons with Disabilities in February 2005 under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Welfare. As a follow-up to the workshop, the NGO Forum has been negotiating with the Prime Minister's office. And a delegate from the Forum will participate in the Sixth Session.

- Some Governments such as Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand are conducting preparatory forums for the Six Session. Thailand is in the process of drafting an anti-discrimination law on disability, parallel to the international process towards the convention. Australia can be recognized as a country with good practice in which civil society experts pressure and has influenced the Government's policy and attitude towards the convention.

Attendance Sheet,7^th July

International Convention

ANNEX III: PRESENTATION ON THE "DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR LESTE NATIONAL POLICY ON ADVANCEMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT - AN OVERVIEW"

Presented on behalf of Arsénio Paixão Bano

State Secretary for Labour and Solidarity

Presented by Mr Laulentino Guterres,

KATILOSA, Timor Leste

Slide 2

Process of elaborating the Policy

¨Participatory

¨Consultative

Overview of the Policy

¨Vision and Goal

¨Objectives

¨Strategic actions

Way Ahead

Slide 3

Policy Process

Role of State Secretariat for Labour and Solidarity
¨Responsible for welfare and employment promotion of persons with disability: Section 8, Labour Code 2002
¨Recognition that advancement of persons with disabilities is a critical issue for national development from the social perspective

Slide 4

Legal Basis of the Policy

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

¨Section 16 (Universality and Equality) guarantees the rights of all citizens, and for non-discrimination on grounds of… physical or mental condition.

¨Section 21 (Disabled Citizens) provides that disabled citizens shall enjoy the same rights and be subject to same duties as all other citizens; and the State shall promote the protection of disabled citizens.

Slide 5

Normative Basis of the Policy

International Instruments - human rights
¨Universal Declaration of Human Rights
¨International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and General Comment No. 5 (1994) - Persons with disabilities
¨International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
¨Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and General Recommendation No. 18 (1991) - Disabled women
¨Convention on the Rights of the Child

Slide 6

Normative Basis of the Policy

International and Regional Instruments
¨World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (adopted by General Assembly resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982)
¨Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (adopted by General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex of 20 December 1993)
¨Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific

Slide 7

Participatory Process

Regional consultative seminars organised in all four regions
¨Baucau / Maliana / Ainaro / Dili - from 7 April to 3 May
¨Nearly 500 participants from all 13 districts
¨Governmental officials, representatives of civil society, and persons with disabilities, who accounted for 40+ per cent of all participants
¨Main issues identified: opportunities to improve quality of life; to realise sustainable livelihoods; and to participate in and contribute to civil and political life

Slide 8

Consultative Aspects

Role of Disability Working Group
¨Forum for informal consultations between Government and non-governmental organizations
¨Strong advocate for national policy on disability, following resumption of independence in 2002
¨Effective contributions of views, detailed knowledge and substance to policy formulation process
¨Facilitated ad hoc consultations with other senior governmental officials: education / health / public works / planning and finance

Slide 9

Policy Overview

Purpose
¨Framework to promote accessibility with reasonable adaptation in general systems of society for all - social, economic and cultural, and civil and political
¨Framework to achieve incorporation of disability as key theme in all strategies, policies and plans on inclusive development and poverty reduction - which are the paramount goals of Government
¨Framework to support awareness-raising, public information and consultations on advancement of persons with disability and development

Slide 10

Policy Overview

Values and principles on which the Policy is based
¨Equality between women and men, and non-discrimination
¨Inclusion in all aspects of development as a right and a responsibility
¨Empowerment of persons with disability as agent and beneficiary of all aspects of development

Slide 11

Policy Overview

Definition of disability for purposes of the national policy
¨Persons who experience long-term difficulties due to physical, sensory and/or mental condition, which substantially limits capacities to perform one or more essential daily life activities.

Prevalence in the population
¨Provisional data from Census 2004 indicate nearly 15 per cent of 194,943 households enumerated reported a household member with physical disability (11.4%) or mental condition (2.3%); majority are in rural areas.

Slide 12

Policy Framework

Vision
¨To promote an environment in which there are no barriers to full and effective participation and equality between women and men in all aspects of development, which contributes to continuous, sustainable and equitable improvements in levels of living and quality of life in larger freedom for all.

Slide 13

Policy Framework

Goal
¨To promote recognition, progressive realisation and effective protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste for citizens with disability and further thereby their full and effective participation, on the basis of equality between women and men, in building a prosperous and just nation and a society for all.

Slide 14

Policy Framework

Objectives
¨Achieve accessibility with reasonable adaptation in the general systems of society
¨Achieve universal access to accessible social services and social safety nets
¨Promote equalization of opportunities for individual enterprise, on the basis of equality between women and men, to create income and wealth in open markets
¨Promote equalization of opportunities to participate in and contribute to civil and political life
¨Promote information and communications in modes and formats accessible for all

Slide 15

Strategic Actions

Strategic actions to achieve accessibility in the general systems of society include
¨Raise public awareness of accessibility as a basic right
¨Disseminate official documents in accessible formats and support expanded use of augmentative and alternative communications modes to ensure choice for all
¨Achieve progressively accessible public facilities and services, public accommodations, and transport services
¨Promote accessible religious, cultural and historical sites
¨Achieve progressively development and rehabilitation of shelter and habitat that provide accessibility for all

Slide16

Strategic Actions

Strategic actions to achieve a "civil minimum" in accessible social services and safety nets to improve quality of life for all include
¨Raise public awareness of preventable causes of disability and ways to achieve healthier lifestyles
¨Support for community-directed approaches to early detection and intervention in all regions
¨Support to expand rehabilitation services, and to assistive devices and services to all regions
¨Support for inclusive education and training
¨Promote choice in sports and cultural activities 16

Slide 17

Strategic Actions

Strategic actions to promote equalization of opportunities for individual enterprise to create income and wealth include

¨Raise public awareness of the right to work for all
¨Promote inclusive skill development, vocational training and extension services to equalize opportunities to participate in the knowledge-based economy, and to increase productivity in the rural sector - for improved food security, and incomes
¨Employment promotion shall be disability-inclusive and gender-sensitive, with emphasis on the rural areas
¨Employment promotion to produce assistive devices
¨Disability-inclusive approaches to promote opportunities for youth with disability in sustainable livelihoods in all regions

Slide 18

Strategic Actions

Strategic actions to achieve progressively a democratic system that presents no barriers to participate in and contribute to civil and political life include
¨Raise public awareness of right of all to participate in political life and the conduct of public affairs|
¨Build human capacities for governance and public sector management
¨Foster leadership development in all sectors and at all levels on the basis of equality between women and men

Slide 19

Strategic Actions

Strategic actions to promote information and communications in accessible formats include
¨Raise public awareness of right of all to exercise freedom of expression without barriers
¨Support expanded efforts to build national capacities and institutions for accessible information, and augmentative and alternative communication modes
¨Recognise officially accessible formats and augmentative and alternative communication modes for public affairs as well as in private sector activities
¨Promote applied research on disability, and development of statistics on disability and development

Slide 20

Way Ahead

Actions submitted for consideration of Council of Ministers

¨Actions focus on support - technical, financial and political - for a process to achieve progressively accessibility with reasonable adaptation in the general systems of society
¨Actions do not require new resources but improved resource allocation decision-making from the disability perspective
¨Actions do not envisage new nation building programmes but strengthened capacities and institutions for inclusive designs and progressive removal of barriers in facilities and services
¨Actions are premised on greater participation, transparency and accountability by all parties concerned

Slide 21

Sets of recommended actions

¨Incorporate disability-inclusive concepts and principles in planning, resource allocations and monitoring of Annual Action Plans and Sector Investment Programmes, as well as other multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes

¨Build capacities to develop, implement and monitor a disability-inclusive legal framework, including general legislation and regulations on non-discrimination and equalization of opportunities, and special legislation to address priority issues, such as protection of children and women with disability, and persons with mental, intellectual or psychological disability

Slide 22

Way Ahead

Sets of recommended actions (2)
¨Establish and develop a national council, committee or similar mechanism for consultation and coordination of actions related to advancement of persons with disability
¨Build capacities and empower for participatory monitoring and evaluation of disability-inclusive development and poverty reduction
¨Ensure transparency and accountability in action to further the process of disability-inclusive development and poverty reduction in Timor-Leste

Slide 23

Way Ahead

International and regional cooperation, could include
¨Advice and assistance to build national capacities and institutions for progressive realization of accessibility; non-discrimination and equalization of opportunities
¨Support for pilot action, particularly by the non-governmental community, to promote opportunities for enterprise by persons with disability - women and men - in all regions
¨Opportunities to participate in technical exchanges, seminars and training workshops on priority disability and development topics, which are accessible for all

ANNEX IV: PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED STEPS FOR BIWAKO+5: FORWARD-LOOKING STRATEGIES FOR THE 2ND HALF OF THE DECADE

10^th session of the TWG-DC

UN ESCAP secretariat

Slide 2

Structure of the presentation

¨UNESCAP efforts for the BMF implementation 2004

¨Development in disability field for the last three years

¨Proposed Steps for Biwako+5

¨Timeframe

¨Working group formation

Slide 3

UNESCAP efforts for the Implementation of the BMF-2004

¨Questionnaire to see the extent of national commitment and policy formulation on the BMF goals.

¨Regional Workshop on Monitoring the Implementation of the BMF -October

Slide 4

Regional Workshop on Monitoring the Implementation of the BMF
October 2004

Developed a set of indicators on the BMF goals

Lessons learnt:

¨Can develop yes/no response to the existence and availability of policies/mechanism

¨Limitations and challenges to establish quantitative indicators for the BMF

¨Lack of data

¨Compare with the MDG indicators

¨A manual/guideline for indicator development will be published in 2006

Slide 5

Resolution 61/8
"Midpoint review of the implementation of the BMF"
(adopted on 18 May 2005)

¨Encourages governments recommitment of the BMF implementation towards the mid-point review.

¨In 2007, the high-level intergovernmental meeting of three working days will be held.

Slide 6

Developments in disability field at large for the last 3 years

¨Elaboration of the international convention

¨Comprehensive CBR approach promoted (Joint Position Paper 2004 by ILO/UNESCO/WHO)

¨Twin track approach in development

¨Inclusive education promoted

Slide 7

Proposed Steps for Biwako+5:
Forward-looking strategies for the 2^nd half of the Decade-2008-2012

Need for:

¨Assessment of the BMF implementation at the mid-point in 2007.

¨Review and reengineering of the BMF strategies for the 2^nd half

Key thinking in the strategy setting:

¨Well-focused

¨Feasible/action-oriented

¨Result-based

¨Responsive to the current

Slide 8

Biwako+5:Forward-looking strategies for the 2^nd half of the Decade

Reference
¨Beijing +5
¨Proposed supplementary rules

Possible component
¨Strategy for action
¨Regional and inter-regional collaboration
¨Empowerment/ capacity building
¨Rights-based

Slide 9

Time Frame

Slide 10

Time frame

TWG-DC 10^th session June 2005 -Formation of the Working Group.

¨Regional workshop on the national plan on action October 2005-1^st review of the Biwako+5.
¨TWG-DC 11^th (APDF GA?) and 12^th Sessions in 2006 – 2^nd and 3^rd review.
¨TWG-DC 13^th Session in 2007–4^th review.
¨EGM October 2007 –Finalize the draft.
¨High Level Inter-governmental Meeting- October 2007 -Submission and Adoption.

Slide 11

Working Groups for Biwako +5

¨SHO, gender mainstreaming, special groups
¨Education, employment
¨Poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihood, community-based rehabilitation, inter-regional collaboration
¨International convention, disability statistics and indicators, national plan of action, accessibility

Slide12

Let's work together!

Thank You ~

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