Programme :
Opening statement by Mr. Shigeru Mochida
Deputy Executive Secretary and Officer-in-Charge, a.i.
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(ESCAP), I am very pleased to welcome you to this High-level
Intergovernmental Meeting on the Midpoint Review of the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012.
I would like to express my appreciation to each of you for having
accepted our invitation. I am particularly pleased to see many government
ministers and representatives here today. Your presence demonstrates the
continuing commitment of your governments to the primary goal of the Decade,
which is an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for persons
with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. Meetings like this will certainly
promote a more holistic approach that is needed to address the multi-faceted
nature of disability concerns at the highest political level.
I am also encouraged to see the participation of UN agencies, our civil
society partners and private sector stakeholders and I would like to
acknowledge all their contributions to this meeting. Partnership and
cooperation is crucial for promoting the full participation and equality of
persons with disabilities. My appreciation also goes to the Government of
Japan for their generous financial support for this meeting.
In Commission resolution 58/4 of 22 May 2002, members and associate
members of ESCAP decided to extend the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons for another ten years, from 2003 to 2012. In this context, the
“Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free
and Rights-based Society in Asia and the Pacific”, was adopted as the
defining policy guideline for the new Decade at the High-level
Intergovernmental Meeting to Conclude the first Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, held in Otsu City, Japan, five years ago.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the first half of the second Decade, the ESCAP region has
witnessed a steady increase in numbers of Governments instituting disability
coordination mechanisms and policies at the national level. The rights-based
approach, called for by the Biwako Millennium Framework has been
increasingly visible in the language of Government policies. At the global
level, significant normative developments on disability have also taken
place, the most notable example of which is the adoption of the
“International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” at the
General Assembly of the United Nations last December . The adoption marked
the beginning of the new era in which disability issues are pursued from
legal as well as human rights perspectives.
Despite the progress, however, challenges and obstacles remain. The lack
of availability and the quality of disability-related demographic data and
socio-economic indicators continue to pose major problems. Many Governments
and other stakeholders report that the lack of financial and human
resources, technical knowledge and capacities hinder their implementation of
the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action.
The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action stipulated that a Mid-point
review of the Decade should be conducted and based on the review, the
targets and strategic plans for the second half of the Decade may be
modified and new targets and strategic plans formulated.
In this context, ESCAP resolution 61/8 of 18 May 2005 resolved that a
document that would further facilitate the implementation of the Biwako
Millennium Framework for Action be formulated for the second half of the
Decade from 2008 to 2012, and recommended the organization of a high-level
intergovernmental meeting in 2007.
The process of formulating the supplementary document began in 2006.
Through a number of ESCAP-organized meetings, involving Governments and
disabled people’s organizations and other stakeholders, the document
entitled draft “Biwako Plus Five”, has been produced, which provides
additional actions and strategies for the existing Framework. This document
will be submitted to this High-level Intergovernmental Meeting for your
deliberation and consideration for adoption.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to conclude my statement by expressing my best wishes for
your efforts to realize our shared aspiration for an inclusive, barrier-free
and rights-based society, a society in which all people with diverse
abilities can fully enjoy the fruits of development on an equal basis.
I wish you success in your deliberations.
Thank you.
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