Southeast Asia
Commemoration to Make the Right Real: Ratification of the UNCRPD, Hanoi, Vietnam, 3 December 2014
Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Vu Duc Dam signing the "Make the Right Real"
pledge board
The Government of Vietnam through the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Vietnam's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 3 December 2014 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event was held in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).
Attended by over 200 participants, including leaders with disabilities and stakeholders, the milestone event strengthened the Vietnamese government's commitment to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Vu Duc Dam and H.E. Ms. Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, Minister of MOLISA, announced the ratification of CRPD by the Government of Vietnam at the event.
The APCD/JAIF Project on rural market modifications in Vietnam was presented by Mr. Bach Cong Tien, Vice Chairman of BaVi District People's Committee, at the event.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/commemoration-make-right-real-ratification-un-crpd-hanoi-vietnam-3-december-2014
Southeast Asia
National Consultation Meeting on Laws and Policies related to Autism in Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2 December 2014
Young persons with autism performing for meeting participants
In order to enhance understanding about the needs of persons with autism, the Government of Vietnam through the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), the Vietnam Autism Network (VAN) and APCD, in collaboration with JICA and JAIF, conducted the National Consultation Meeting on Laws and Polices related to Autism in Vietnam in Hanoi on 2 December 2014.
Over 70 participants, most of who are persons with autism and their families, and senior officials from the Government of Vietnam attended the event. One key outcome of the Meeting was the adoption of the "Hanoi Recommendations on Autism" developed by the Government of Vietnam through MOLISA and VAN mainly, which suggests steps needed to be taken in the development of proper laws and policies related to autism. Young persons with autism also presented performances to the audience and shared their inputs as well. Resource persons from Government of Japan and ASEAN Autism Network were invited to share their international experiences.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/national-consultation-meeting-laws-and-policies-related-autism-vietnam-hanoi-vietnam-2-decem
Asia-Pacific
Regional Meeting on Good Practices on Implementation of UNCRPD and Disability Data Collection, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 18-19 December 2014
Group photo with Regional Meeting participants
The Regional Meeting on Good Practices on Implementation of CRPD and Disability Data Collection was held from 18 to 19 December 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to brainstorm and elaborate on efficient data collection and measurement according to Cambodia's five-year National Disability Strategic Plan (NDSP) from 2014-2018. The Meeting was organized by the Disability Action Council (DAC), the Cambodian Disabled People's Organisation (CDPO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government.
As one of the invited speakers of the Meeting, APCD shared its expertise about regional collaboration in relation to Cambodia's implementation of the NDSP.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/regional-meeting-good-practices-implementation-uncrpd-and-disability-data-collection-cambodi
Southeast Asia
Workshop on Non-Handicapping Environment, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 18 December 2014
A blindfolded participant taking part in Workshop exercises
Forty special education teachers from Thailand's northern provinces joined the Workshop on Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 18 December 2014. The Workshop was conducted by Wheelchair & Friendship Center of Asia (Thailand) (WAFCAT) in collaboration with APCD.
The participants were introduced to the NHE framework and basic accessibility principles, as well as the technical specifications in doing access audits. They also took part in actual access audit practice, which will help them provide their students with disabilities an inclusive, barrier-free environment. Workshop participants also conducted field visits to two children with disabilities' homes to do access audits.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/workshop-non-handicapping-environment-chiang-mai-thailand-18-december-2014
Southeast Asia
APCD/JAIF Training on Project Proposal Writing, Pyapon, Myanmar, 25-27 November 2014
APCD/JAIF Project steering committee members during the Training
APCD, in cooperation with JAIF, conducted the Training on Project Proposal Writing and Rural Market Modification in Pyapon Township, Myanmar from 25 to 27 November 2014 as a part of the ongoing APCD/JAIF Project in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The Training was attended by APCD/JAIF Project steering committee members, including Disabled People's Organization (DPO) members in Pyapon Township. Apart from the Training, participants also conducted field visits to rural markets in Myauk Pine and Myo Ma Zay Gyi markets where market modification activities, such as the construction of accessible toilets and wheelchair ramps, were done.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/apcdjaif-projects-training-project-proposal-writing-pyapon-myanmar-25-27-november-2014
Asia-Pacific
Development of Leadership and Networking for Persons with Disabilities, Tokyo, Japan, 1 October-22 November 2014
International delegates taking part in role-playing activities
One of APCD's staff participated in the international Training on "Development of Leadership and Networking for Persons with Disabilities" organized by JICA and held in Tokyo, Japan, from 1 October to 22 November 2014.
The Training, attended by persons with different disabilities from the Asia-Pacific region as well as Africa, was aimed at developing the leadership and networking skills of persons with disabilities at the national, regional and international levels. Through the intensive training module, participants learned more about capacity and human resource development, as well as the disability situation among developing countries.
Other activities included site visits to sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities and a center for persons with psychosocial disabilities in Tokyo. Participants also met and interacted with other leaders with disabilities at the Center for Independent Living MUCHU in Osaka, Japan.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/development-leadership-and-networking-persons-disabilities-japan-1-october-22-november-2014
