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UN ESCAP/APDF Workshop on Regional Follow-up to the Third and
Fourth Sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities |
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Programme :ASIA PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM OPENING COMMENTSMs. Judy Wee, Excellencies, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of APDF – the Asia Pacific Disability Forum I am pleased to welcome all of you here today. I trust that our discussions will be helpful, constructive and encouraging as we deliberate together on how the Biwako Millennium Framework is working, and how, in our various countries and agencies, the concerns and achievements of people with disabilities and their families are being addressed and recognised. In 1982, following the successful United Nations initiative to dedicate 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons, the UN General Assembly adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and proclaimed the period 1983-1992 as the UN Decade of Disabled Persons. Ten years later in August 1991, ESCAP convened an Expert Group meeting that acknowledged that the First Decade had got off to a slow start in many countries in the Asia Pacific Region. It was recognised that there was a need for a second decade to consolidate gains from the first decade and to strengthen regional co-operation amongst countries and UN agencies as well as to give a fresh impetus to the implementation of achieving the goal of full participation and equality for persons with disabilities in our region. ESCAP’s resolution 48/3 confirmed the Second Decade of Disabled Persons that concluded in October 2002 at a High Level Governmental meeting on the shores of Lake Biwa in Otstu City, Japan. National governments, United Nations agencies, International Non-Government organizations of and for Disabled People agreed that the work of the first two decades must not stop but, from the lessons learned and the initiatives taken, we all must reach for a more inclusive and rights-based policy guidelines for the 21st century. The United Nations General Assembly in 2000 had already agreed on the setting of the Millennium Development Goals for everyone, regardless of race, colour, creed or disability. For such Goals to have relevance and meaning for children and adults with disabilities and their families it was critical that the guidelines for future action to promote the well-being of those with disability in Asia Pacific take the Millennium Development Goals into account. The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region was agreed as our Policy Guideline for the new decade. Biwako reflects the name of the location where the vision was confirmed. Millennium reflects the start of the New Century and Framework gives the structure on which targets can be set as supplements to the UN Millennium Development Goals. An inclusive barrier free and rights-based society represents the guiding principles of the framework. An “inclusive” society is a Society for All, a barrier free society where people are respected as unique individuals free from institutional, physical, social, economic, cultural and attitudinal barriers which too often hinder the progress of people with disabilities. Being rights-based moves us all forward from the charity, sickness and social model to recognising the HUMAN RIGHT of each unique citizen as the centre of all decisions affecting their daily living – NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US. Through our voluntary non-government member agencies, disabled people seek partnership and cooperation with UN agencies, with our own Governments and between us. We have experienced the positive and cooperative way the Ad Hoc Committee on the proposed UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability has been working. We appreciate the opportunities offered here with ESCAP to have dialogue and believe that full participation and equality of opportunity is an approach well worth cultivating in the debating rooms of the policy formulators. This week with ESCAP, we are carrying out the requirements of the BMF to monitor and review achievements and progress to date and identify actions needed to have the Biwako Millennium Framework progressed. As the Chair of APDF representing those with disability throughout this Region I thank you for your willingness to participate in this gathering and extend again to the ESCAP Secretariat our thanks for their courtesy and trust that by the end of the week we will all leave excited for the future. |
