Workshop for Capacity Development of Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD) 26-29 January 2010  Bangkok, Thailand

BANGKOK DECLARATION

We, the representatives of self-help organizations of persons with disabilities from 8 countries of South East Asia, including the State of Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste and the Kingdom of Thailand, participated in the Workshop for the Capacity Development of Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (CDSHOD), held from the 26th to the 29th January 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

We sincerely thank the organizers, the Foundation of the Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD Foundation) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Disabled Peoples’ International Asia and Pacific (DPIAP) with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the people of Thailand for their warm hospitality and support in the successful implementation of this event.

We declare our collective statement as follows;

1. We acknowledge the commitment and efforts of the APCD Foundation towards the development of self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and encourage them for their continuous promotion of the disability movement in the South East Asia Region.
2. We acknowledge the importance of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its plan of actions to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of the South East Asian nations, and the engagement of persons with disabilities and their organizations.
3. We recognize the potential of persons with disabilities to actively pursue the ideals and purposes of the ASEAN to build a caring and sharing community in all areas  of the ASEAN Socio Cultural Blueprint (ASCB).
4. We recognize the importance to establish an ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) initiated by DPI-AP as a vehicle to achieve inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in all segments of society.
5. We declare our commitment to build the capacity of national grassroots self-help organizations of persons with disabilities in the South East Asia region, the development of useful network arrangements among ASEAN Member States and the effective collaboration of such organizations with the international disability movement in the South East Asian region.
6. We appreciate all efforts made by the Countries of the South East Asian region and appeal for all countries to consider signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol to involve persons with disabilities in the process.
7. .We appeal to the Countries of the South East Asia region to involve organizations of persons with disabilities and their families as well as other stakeholders in the implementation CRPD and equal participation in its process.
8. We strongly urge all South East Asian countries to actively pursue the implementation of international instruments, including, but not limited to, the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF), BMF Plus 5, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
9. We encourage all national self-help organizations of persons with disabilities in the South East Asian region to develop, support and promote future leaders at the grassroots and national levels, and to ensure equal gender and family participation in the ASEAN community.
10. We call for the Governments in the South East Asian region as well as relevant partners to recognize and support the development plan of national self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and their families.

Furthermore, we appeal to the Governments of ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders to consider the following recommendations to mainstream the disability perspective in the ASEAN community, strengthen participation of persons with disabilities, and improve the quality of life and well-being of persons with disabilities in the region.

1. The Governments of ASEAN Member States, the APCD Foundation, DPIAP, JICA, TCEB, and the Nippon Foundation and relevant stakeholders to develop an action plan in order to proclaim the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2022.
2. The Governments of ASEAN Member States to endorse, support and promote the establishment of an ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) as the regional representative and voices of persons with disabilities in the South East Asian region to work back-to-back in building the ASEAN community.
3. The Governments of ASEAN Member States to enhance the solidarity and unity among the nations and peoples of ASEAN by forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and harmonious for the sake of the well-being, livelihood, and welfare of persons with disabilities and their families. 

We, the participants, hope and expect that the Governments of ASEAN Member States will ensure the implementation of CRPD, taking into consideration accessibility, affordability and relevant issues related to disability.