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JOINT STATEMENT on
POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG Persons WITH DISABILITIES
(adopted on 29 Oct. 2004)
JOINT STATEMENT on
POVERTY ALLEVIATION AMONG Persons WITH DISABILITIES
(adopted on 29 Oct. 2004)
1. We the participants, representing governments, non-governmental
organizations and organizations of people with disabilities met in Lanzhou,
Gansu Province of Peoples Republic of China from 25-29 October 2004, at the
UNESCAP/CDPF Field Study cum Regional Workshop on Poverty Alleviation among
Persons with Disabilities.
2. We recognize the efforts that have been made by countries to improve
the levels of living and well-being of persons with disabilities in Asia and
the Pacific; however, we also recognize that persistent poverty impacts on
the situation of persons with disabilities and requires urgent action.
3. We recall that the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an
Inclusive, Barrier –free and Rights-based Society for Persons with
Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (the BMF) has identified poverty
alleviation as an important priority.
4. We therefore recommend the following points:
- governments in this region, which have not already done so, are urged
to adopt holistic and comprehensive approaches to policies and programmes
that are socially inclusive, disability responsive and gender sensitive;
- integrate disability into overall national development plans,
programmes and projects for poverty alleviation and promote multi sectoral
coordination of institutions at all levels;
- allocate on predictable and sustainable basis budget and other
resources for pro-poor policies and programmes particularly for poverty
alleviation among persons with disabilities;
- emphasize the critical role of partnerships among the public and
private sectors and civil society in effective and sustainable poverty
alleviation;
- support capacity-building of persons with disabilities and their
organizations;
- increase efforts at disability sensitizing of society especially law
and policy makers, employers, media and major stakeholders;
- further develop and promote accessible environments including
physical, information and communication accessibility in order to provide
persons with disabilities with opportunities for equal and full
participation in all aspects of life;
- promote and strengthen community approaches including Community-Based
Rehabilitation (CBR) based on the social model as an important component
of a key and effective poverty alleviation strategy;
- promote disability inclusive international and regional cooperation.
5. We further recommend that UNESCAP bring our recommendations in the
workshop to the process of regional preparation of the first five-year
review of the UN Millennium Declaration and related outcomes of major UN
conferences and summits.
6. We wish to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the
Government of China, the Gansu Province and the China Disabled Persons’
Federation (CDPF) for their cooperation, support and excellent organization
of this successful workshop.
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