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Interregional Seminar and Regional Demonstration Workshop on
Accessible ICT and Persons with Disabilities, Manila, Philippines, March 3-7, 2003
 MANILA DECLARATION ON ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
(ICT)*
We, the participants in the Interregional Seminar and Demonstration Workshop on
Accessible ICT and Persons with Disabilities, held at Manila from 3 to 7 March 2003,
representing the countries of Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia,
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam,
and the United States of America, declare:
1. Possibilities to access the virtual world and knowledge-based economies by means of
the global Internet and related information and communications technologies remain limited
to many people in countries, persons with disabilities in particular. Strategic
initiatives to address a digital divide must also address a human capabilities divide and
be appropriate to countries. Strategic initiatives should include, but not be limited to,
investments in education and training to promote literacy and build national capacities
for sustainable livelihoods to improve well-being. Initiatives must be gender sensitive,
cohort neutral and disability responsive.
2. Accessibility is recognized as an essential component of broad rights-based
approaches to development. As presented in Rule 5 (Accessibility) of the United Nations
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities [1], accessibility is important for equalization of opportunities in the full
and effective exercise of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and
cultural [2]. Access to the physical environment and access to
information and communications impact the full scope of social life and development for
all and can promote equality and opportunities for full participation for everyone.
3. Our seminar and workshop have focused on accessible information and communications
technologies (ICT) with reasonable accommodation because it empowers and enables persons
with disabilities to full and equal participation in social, economic and cultural life
and in their exercise of civil and political rights. At the same time, we have learned
from our presentations and dialogue that ICT is a member of the larger set of electronic
and information technology products, equipment systems and services that store, process,
transmit, convert, duplicate or receive digital information. Electronic and information
technology products include photocopiers, computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs),
facsimile machines, information transaction machines or kiosks, automatic transaction
machines (ATMs), voting machines, operating systems, software (including application
generators and development tools), Web sites, public mass media (radio, television and
cinema) and telecommunications systems and devices. While accessibility in the full range
of electronic and information technology products and services is beyond the scope of our
seminar and workshop, as a general consideration, we are of the view that electronic and
information technology products and services should provide accessibility with reasonable
accommodation. Similar considerations pertain to provision of accessibility with
reasonable accommodation in transportation systems and their user interfaces.
4. Accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation recognizes the flexibility of
technologies to provide appropriate functionality necessary for meeting user needs and
preferences. Addressing ICT accessibility with reasonable accommodation empowers and
serves as a catalyst and instrument for re-engineering governmental, as well as
non-governmental and enterprise processes. Participants of the seminar and workshop note
that the promotion and realization of ICT accessibility with reasonable accommodation
requires consultation and advocacy of the fundamental importance of the topic with
governments at all levels and in all sectors of the societies in which we live and work.
5. A major contribution of the seminar and workshop has been the opportunities provided
for exchanges of knowledge, ideas and good practices to promote and realize accessible ICT
with reasonable accommodation. Participants of the seminar and workshop attach special
importance to the continuation of these exchanges as follow-up to the seminar and workshop
by means of open and transparent networks concerning accessible ICT. A primary objective
of the networks would be to promote awareness and support for accessible ICT with
reasonable accommodation appropriate to the conditions in our countries that would meet
the needs and preferences of diverse users. The networks also should provide opportunities
to inform about good practices as well as resources available to advocate accessible ICT
with reasonable accommodation, to create awareness and to build national capacities. In
this regard, participants note with considerable appreciation the offer of the
Asia-Pacific Office of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) and the International Center
for Disability Resources on the Internet (ICDRI) (non-governmental organizations) to
moderate network dialogue and exchanges in close association with the National Organizing
Committee, in particular the "WebAble" publication of the National Council for
the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP) of the Republic of the Philippines.
6. Participants recognize that accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation is part of
broad rights-based approaches to development. Operationally, accessible ICT with
reasonable accommodation provides the flexibility to accommodate the needs and preferences
of the widest range of users. The value proposition of accessible ICT with reasonable
accommodation is equality through inclusive solutions based on full and effective
participation. Accessible ICT with reasonable accommodation builds upon Universal Design
concepts and principles and are summarized in the attached "Manila Accessible ICT (information and communications
technologies) Design Recommendations."
7. Participants further recognize that promotion and implementation of the "Manila Accessible ICT Design Recommendations"
will involve commitments of resources of a normative, substantive and financial nature.
Three products assume special importance for concerted, practical and immediate follow-up
to the seminar and workshop; and the support of the United Nations is urgently requested:
(a) Preparation of a global comparative study on norms and standards related
accessibility with reasonable accommodation that will provide critical input for promotion
and advocacy of the "Manila Accessible ICT Design
Recommendations" in countries and respond to the request of the first session of
the Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities concerning input
from experts and persons with disabilities in the matter of accessibility with reasonable
accommodation (A/57/357, paragraph 15, as endorsed by General Assembly resolution 57/229
of 18 December 2002).
(b) Development, testing and evaluation of a pilot validation tool to test and evaluate
online Web site compliance with the minimum threshold of accessibility with reasonable
accommodation set forth in the "Manila Accessible
ICT Design Recommendations."
(c) Preparation of a scheme for training and resource materials on norms, standards and
substantive aspects of accessibility with reasonable accommodation to build national
capacities and to provide input to activities of the accessible ICT network.
* Adopted at Manila, 7 March 2003
Notes:
1 General Assembly resolution 48/96, annex of 20 December 1993 http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre00.htm.
2 See International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by
General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 < http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_ccpr.htm
>; and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by
General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 < http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_cescr.htm
>.
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