Asia-Pacific
ASEAN-Japan Senior Officials' Meeting on International Cooperation and Disability, Tokyo, Japan, 31 August 2015
Group photo of over 150 Meeting participants
The ASEAN-Japan Senior Officials' Meeting on International Cooperation and Disability was organized by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) on 31 August 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. The objective of the Meeting was to provide an opportunity to elaborate future perspectives of international cooperation on disability among senior officials in ASEAN countries and Japan. The Tokyo Recommendations on International Cooperation and Disability 2015 and Beyond in the ASEAN Region was discussed and adopted by the Meeting participants. APCD also presented a regional perspective of the APCD/JICA/JAIF projects, which have been implemented as international cooperation projects on disability in partnership with the Government of Japan, governments of Thailand and other ASEAN countries.
Among the senior officials present at the Meeting were H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag (Chairman of Executive Board, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability), H.E. Dr. A.K.P. Mochtan (Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, ASEAN Secretariat), H.E. Mr. Kimihiro Ishikane (Director General, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan), H.E. Mr. Yasuhiro Fujii (Director General, Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan), and H.E. Mr. Jakkrit Srivali (Director General, Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand). H.E. Mr. Taro Kimura (Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Government of Japan) was a guest of honor for the Meeting.
Other participants included government ministries and agencies of ASEAN member countries and Japan, Disabled People's Organizations, international non-government organizations, persons with disabilities and family members, university students in Japan and other supporters.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/asean-japan-senior-officials-meeting-international-cooperation-and-disability-tokyo-japan-31
Southeast Asia
APCD/JAIF Project Collaboration for the National CBR Forum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 28-30 July 2015
APCD/JAIF Project presentation at the plenary session
The APCD/JAIF Project took part in the National Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 28 to 30 July 2015. The Forum was held in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the United Children's Education Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.
Details about the APCD/JAIF Project were presented at the Forum's plenary session on the session addressing accessibility through CBR and during a workshop on non-handicapping environment. The Forum aimed at increasing knowledge of CBR as a strategy for Community-based Inclusive Development (CBID) through capacity building and sharing of good practices from across Cambodia and Asia, as well as to strengthen a national CBR coordination mechanism and to develop an action plan to support further development of CBR in Cambodia.
The Project team also conducted monitoring and rural market modifications of the APCD/JAIF Project in Cambodia's Kien Svay District.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/apcdjaif-project-collaboration-national-cbr-forum-phnom-penh-cambodia-28-30-july-2015
Southeast Asia
APCD and WAFCAT Meeting on 'Community Accessibility Project', Ratchaburi, Thailand, 7 August 2015
Observation and interaction with students and staff of the Ratchaburi Special Education Center
APCD, in collaboration with Wheelchairs & Friendship Center of Asia-Thailand (WAFCAT), visited Community-based Rehabilitation activities in Ratchaburi, Thailand on 7 August 2015 to push for the "Community Accessibility Project" in the province. APCD and WAFCAT staff met with representatives of Ratchaburi's Social Welfare and Human Security Department, Disabled People's Association, Special Education Center, Provincial Administrative Office and other local DPOs.
At the meeting with local government officials, APCD showed examples of good practices of Non-Handicapping Environment (NHE) implementation in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam through the APCD/JAIF Project. Field visits and accessibility audits were also conducted at the Huay-Moo Temple, the Disability Device Repair Center, the Ratchaburi Special Education Center and a local market.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/apcd-and-wafcat-meeting-community-accessibility-project-ratchaburi-thailand-7-august-2015
Southeast Asia
APCD and Dao Ruang Group Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 22 August 2015
Group photo of self-advocates with intellectual disability, parents and supporters
The Dao Ruang Group, with support from APCD, conducted a Meeting at the APCD Training Building, Bangkok, Thailand on 22 August 2015 to discuss several agendas. Attended by self-advocates with intellectual disabilities, their parents and supporters, the Meeting nominated representatives to the upcoming training on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by the International Disability Alliance (IDA), to be held in Bangkok from 29 September to 7 October 2015.
The Meeting chose a community service activity for the Severe Children with Disabilities Center at Pak-Kred and also planned new fundraising activities, including selling canvas paintings and pillows by self-advocates with intellectual disabilities. The Group also brainstormed how to increase membership through a meeting with the Din Daeng Group composed of parents of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/apcd-and-dao-ruang-group-meeting-bangkok-thailand-22-august-2015
New Publications
Fresh Off the Press
Two new publications are now available for download at the APCD website. 'Affirmations of Hope: APCD/JAIF Project Good Practices on Rural Accessibility in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar & Vietnam' and 'Accessibility Directory on Community-based Inclusive Development: APCD/JAIF Project Rural Accessibility in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region' were launched at the ASEAN-Japan Senior Officials' Meeting held in Tokyo, Japan on 31 August 2015.
Both publications document the ongoing APCD/JAIF Project that aims to make rural markets accessible to persons with disabilities. 'Affirmations of Hope' features good practices in target rural markets in CLMV by giving persons with disabilities an opportunity to tell their stories first-hand. 'Accessibility Directory on Community-based Inclusive Development' presents a 'before and after' visual report on the modifications done to target rural markets in CLMV.
Reference
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/affirmations-hope-apcdjaif-project-good-practices-rural-accessibility-cambodia-lao-pdr-myanm
http://apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/apcdjaif-project-accessibility-directory-community-based-inclusive-development
