Southeast Asia
Workshop on Self-Advocates with Intellectual Disabilities in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, 4-5 September 2013, Bangkok, Thailand
Group Photo of the Participants
The “Workshop on Self-Advocates with Intellectual Disabilities in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region” was organized by the Dao Ruang Group (Self-Advocate Group of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Thailand), the Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities of Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disabilities (APCD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and the Inclusion Japan, with support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) on 4-5 September 2013 at the Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. The Workshop aimed to strengthen the connections of the groups of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities in the Mekong Sub-regions, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam; and, to support the development and expansion of the scope of the self-advocate groups from local involvement to the region networking.
Nighty-eight participants representing persons with intellectual disabilities and their family members in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, especially the "Rose Group" of Cambodia, the "Talent Group" of Lao PDR, the "Future Star Group" of Myanmar, the "Dao Ruang Group" of Thailand and the "My Future Group" of Vietnam attended the Workshop. Representatives from the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam also participated to share experiences on handle social protection and welfare of persons with intellectual disabilities.
The "United ID Network Greater Mekong Sub-region" was officially established. The Constitution and the Action Plan 2013-2015 were discussed and signed by the newly elected Executive Committee Members with intellectual disabilities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Mekong River Peer Review Meeting on the User-Friendly Draft Incheon Strategy, 6 September 2013, Bangkok, Thailand
Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Sharing their Opinions and Ideas
The “Mekong River Peer Review Meeting on the User-Friendly Draft Incheon Strategy” was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disabilities (APCD) and the United ID Network Mekong Sub-region on 6 September 2013 at the Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. The Meeting was arranged to enhance the understanding about the Incheon Strategy among persons with intellectual disabilities; and, to gather inputs and comments on the draft version of the user-friendly Incheon Strategy.
There are nearly 100 participants mainly from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. More than half of the participants were persons with intellectual disabilities in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The review of the user-friendly draft of the Incheon Strategy was presented. All the groups of persons with intellectual disabilities got engaged in the group discussion and plenary review to revise and develop an easy-to-read Incheon Strategy.
The Meeting marked the active involvement of persons with intellectual disabilities who took part in sharing their opinions and ideas during the review. Their inputs were highly valued and reflected in the draft.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/asean-meeting-promoting-united-nations-convention-rights-persons-disabilities-crpd-towards-e
http://english.vov.vn/Society/Vietnam-promotes-disabled-peoples-rights/264310.vov
International
High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development, 23 September 2013, New York, United States
H.E. Mrs. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and Dr. Tej Bunnag, Chairman of the Executive Board, APCD, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
The “High-level Meeting on General Assembly on Disability and Development (HLMDD) on the Realization of the Millennium Development Goals and Other Internationally Agreed Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities” was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Unite States on 23 September 2013, the day prior to the commencement of the General Debate of the 68th Session of the General Assembly. “The way forward: A disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond” were highlighted in the HLMDD.
The Heads of States and Government gathered at the meeting to reaffirm their resolve to work together for disability-inclusive development and the commitment of the international community to the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities.
The “Outcome Document was adopted to support the aims of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities.
Reference
http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/hlmdd/a_68_l.1.doc
http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/hlmdd/daisy/readme.html
International
Community, Rights-Based and Disability-Inclusive Development, 23 September 2013, New York, United States
Remarks by H.E. Mrs. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand
The High-Level Side Event “Community, Rights-Based and Disability-Inclusive Development” on the occasion of the HLDD was jointly organized by the Royal Thai Government and the Government of Japan together with the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
H.E. Ms. Pavena Hongsakula, Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and Mr. Jun Shinmi, Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan delivered the opening remarks. The panelists were Mr. Shuaib Chalklen, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development; Ms. Alana Officer, Coordinator, Disability and Rehabilitation Team, Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability, World Health Organization (WHO); Mr. Monthian Buntan, Member of the Senate of Thailand, Member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and APCD Foundation Committee Member; Ms. Akiko Ito, Chief of Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, DESA; and, Mr. Soya Mori, Senior Researcher (Disability and Development), Institute of Developing Economies, Japan, External Trade Organization (JETRO).
The High-Level Side Event provided a platform for discussion towards disability-inclusive development agenda, and how the international community can galvanize efforts to promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Community-Based Inclusive Development as the main poverty reduction and empowerment strategies for persons with disabilities. Representatives of member states, UN agencies and accredited civil societies organizations and media were invited to exchange views on ways forward to achieve right-based and disability-inclusive development agenda with emphasis on community-rehabilitation (CBR).
Reference
http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/watch/community-rights-based-and-disability-inclusive-development/2686593022001#full-text
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