[page 1]
The Human Rights Workshop
16-18 March 2004, Nakorn Prathom, Thailand


Song written for APCD
Despite great initiatives concerning human rights advocacy in the Asia- Pacific Region, participation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PID) and Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities (PPD) are significantly less, compared to other disability groups. Although their human rights tend to be neglected and/or violated, their own voices have seldom been heard and their collective power has not been utilized, especially in developing countries.

Voices of Marginalized Disability Groups

Participants singing, Malaysian (left) and Filipino (right)
The Human Rights Workshop on Marginalized Disability Groups: Voices of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities was organized by APCD in Thailand from 16-18 March 2004. The purpose was to empower PID and PPD to promote their own Human Rights as well as to establish a human rights advocacy network among the participants and their supporters.

There were 17 participants in the PPD group from Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and 15 participants in the PID group from India, Nepal, Viet Nam, and Thailand as well as resource persons from Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

The workshop culminated with powerful statements by each group and a very moving song composed by a Malaysian participant.

A sincere thank you to all who encouraged and facilitated this meaningful and fruitful workshop. A big thank you to all participants too for sharing so freely of yourselves.


Songs written for APCD

Voices of the Resource Persons
Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities (PPD) Course
Ms. Suchada Sakornsatian, Thailand

"As the facilitator for the PPD group in this workshop, I was very proud and happy to carry out the tasks. The outcome was beyond my expectation; it was excellent. We had full participation from all the participants as well as their personal assistants. The discussion was very fruitful and valuable and should be announced to all the stakeholders. It is one way of raising public awareness and decreasing stigmatization for persons with psychiatric disorders. It has been proven that they have the same needs as other people and can voice them by themselves."

Dr. Pattama Sirivech, Thailand

"The declaration statement by the PPD recommended each country should create activities to promote and protect their rights. An exchange of experiences and the progression of the activities should be extended to other countries."

Ms. Deborah Wan, Hong Kong

"I was extremely pleased with the active participation of the representatives of the PPD group who courageously spoke of their bitter and hard struggle against illness and overcoming the mounting obstacles of recovery.This workshop enabled me to use my "old" skills of being a group leader generating discussions and sharing. I found myself totally involved with all the participants and I found true friendship and network with representatives and supporters from the four countries."

Ms. Makiko Kato, Japan

"I was very honored and pleased to join this pioneer Workshop. In order to further facilitate the rights-based approach, more resource persons with disabilities need to join the Workshop in the next year."

Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PID) Course
Mr. Chakkrit Metchanun, Thailand

"I would like to say that this was the first workshop where all participants shared their experiences and really participated. The mechanisms were, small groups of participants, good teamwork of the resource persons and taskforce members, and good project coordination between APCD and our participants. I'd like to say that if we give a chance and/or opportunity to our friends, and accept both PID and PPD which some people love to call "People with Different Disabilities", they will have self-esteem and it will be a "driver" for them to do incredible things like the result of this workshop."

Ms. Emily Fung Wai Ting, Hong Kong

"We play, we share, we laugh, we joke, we discuss. Language is never a barrier for understanding and sharing. We connect with our heart and love. In nature, we lose the sense of time, we discard our impatience and we gain our freedom. To know you, is a way of having a better understanding of ourselves. To see you working in the community, is a light to guide our path. If you can, it is a declaration of confidence. If I can, it is a statement to everyone. The way you live your life, is a way to reflect your understanding of human rights. Cognitive or imaginative, structure or leisure, it is up to all of us to explore and try. Let us connect and share our movement to the end of time. We are in action. Join hands and have fun!"

Voices from Resource Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

DisabilitiesMr. Yim (left) and the PID Group Participants
Mr. Yuen Kin Ming, Hong Kong

"For me, I am overjoyed because I am an advocate and my story is shared."

Mr. Yim Man Ho, Hong Kong

"Friends from other countries admire our courage and congratulate our success after our sharing. Salute to the parents, they will not wait for the government's change of policy. They find their own resources and have their own training centre for their dear children. Great! Well! Our dear parents in Hong Kong, please consult our views before you fight for anything for us!"

Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities
(PPD) Group Statement
"How to Protect Rights

Treat an individual as the highest form of creation and respect his/her rights.
Formulate and implement legislation to protect their Rights.
Set up a monitoring system: have a watchdog to prevent violation of their Rights.
Rights to no discrimination.
Rights to vote, receive appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, and receive insurance/pension.
Rights to work and employment.
Protect the Rights of PPD by establishing a practice for professionals.
Provide information for PPD, so they will know their Rights."
"How to Promote Rights

Educate the public on the awareness of mental health.
Educate PPD regarding their Rights.
Educate professionals on the Rights of PPD.
Address the social problem of stigma and prejudices.
Encourage social participation and acceptance of PPD to fight against discrimination.
Integrate the issues and concerns of PPD into the curriculum of schools.
Have peer support and media play an important part in promoting Rights.
Promote a humane approach towards PPD.
Encourage PPD and all stakeholders to never give up."
"How to Network

Network among PPD through home visitation.
Network the self-help groups to exchange information and ideas.
Actively participate in all social functions through conferences, workshops, study visits, research on local, regional, and international levels.
Network with each other through publications, newsletters, and internet.
APCD is the key organization in the Asia-Pacific region to network all the above."

Malaysian Participants in the PPD Group
Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
(PID) Group Statement

"PID have.... the Right to express.
the Right to create.
the Right to work.
the Right to share.
the Right to love and to be loved.
I will know about my Rights and am aware BUT my friends are not aware. I will tell my friends, train them, and teach them their Human Rights.
I will be a self advocate.
I will.......... tell persons about the rights of PID.
be a catalyst to protect the basic human rights of PID through my organization.
I will try to work myself for self defense.
I still share with my friends the five steps to empowerment.
I haven't read the documents on Human Rights but for me Human Rights is to be able to stand here and talk about myself.
I'd like my parents to understand autistic persons and PID and give me freedom to be independent.
I want the chance to be free b'cos I'm a "normal person". We should be allowed to work and choose our profession.
I think companies should voluntarily employ PID instead of being enforced by law.
I will try my best to work at my job like other people I have seen here.
I want........to have extra work/other work outside the home.
to have medical services in the community.
to live with my family in the community.
to be a doctor, so that I can take care of others.
the Right to work and support my family.
to work hard to get the salary of 1,200 baht.
I want a reduction of bus fare for PID."
Goals/comments of other non-disabled participants:
to establish Human Rights in my country.
to protect Human Rights of PID in my country
to join hands of the parents of PID/PPD to fight for Human Rights with PID/PPD and their parents
to conduct awareness programs in the villages to educate them on their Human Rights
to fight for equal Rights
The Government should subsidize medical fees/expense for children with ID.
Provision of better salaries and benefits for personnel/teachers for PIDs.
The employment quota system should be changed from 0.05% to 3% (6 persons/200 employees).
The government should introduce legislation for the Rights of PID.
All Asian children should have equal Rights to education.
To apply the knowledge/skills gained here in teacher training so they can understand the meaning of Human Rights.


[page 2]

Non-handicapping Environment Workshop
16-18 February 2004, Bangkok, Thailand


ThailandIndian Policy Maker (left) and former Filipino Participant (right)
Before APCD was established, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security conducted Regional Training Courses for Trainers on the Promotion of a Non-handicapping Environment (NHE) for Persons with Disabilities in Bangkok, in March 2000 and February 2002. Acknowledging the effectiveness of the Training Courses, APCD decided to conduct another in February 2003. In the past, more than 90 persons from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region graduated from the Training Courses.

This year, a Non-handicapping Environment Workshop for National Trainers and Policy Makers was organized as part of a follow-up of former participants. In order to consolidate their efforts and achievements for the promotion of a NHE in their own countries, responsible policy makers were also invited for the Workshop and expected to enhance their relevant knowledge/skills. Twenty national trainers and 15 policy makers from 9 countries (Fiji, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam and Thailand) participated. Resource persons came from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK.

The comprehensive course included experiential exercises, field visits and developing Plans of Action for their respective countries.

Comments of former training participants:
"NHE is more a self-help initiative approach because it encourages independence and is proactive. It's a participative approach on the part for former training participants (FTP), which is good in that it fosters collaboration among the FTP and resource persons."

"The workshop was immaculate and delivered in a very constructive way. Intergovernmental cooperation would be a good idea to introduce in the next workshop."

Comments of policy-makers:
"This year's workshop is very good for policy makers to share experiences and knowledge about non-handicapping environments for PWDs' independent living."

"Certain case studies should be presented by resource persons on the actions taken by them to process codes/ standards in their countries and the various difficulties faced."

The resource persons facilitated a successful training course. Please read comments from some of them.

Mr. Joseph Kwan, Hong Kong


"This workshop was a report back session on what they have achieved within their own countries after attending the NHE courses from previous years. It provided an excellent opportunity for the Former Training Participants (FTP) to learn of the achievements and success stories of the other FTPs in their own countries, therefore being motivated and able to learn and adopt similar projects and programs for themselves. The Special Interest and Optional Sessions at the end of the day were also beneficial for the FTP and policy makers (PM) to learn and share their own experiences, to discuss their frustrations and deficiencies. The resourse persons (RP) at the same time advised the FTP and PM on ways to address and overcome their various problems. Finally, the development of Strategies and Action Plans by the FTP and PM together was a good positive exercise to practice collaboration and partnership between the two groups, to learn from each other and agree upon an Action Plan to move forward towards the implementation of this workshop in their own country. Personally, I highly value the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with each and every participant from the Region, the privilege of collaborating in a most professional manner with other Resource Persons, all of whom are equally dedicated in the promotion of a NHE in the Asia and Pacific region."

Mr. Katsushi Sato, Japan


"I believe that an objective to foster the building of an access initiative network (AI Network) of technical personnel, PWDs, and personnel from governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations concerned with access issues in this region was achieved. Exchange/ dissemination of good practice from experience, as well as analysis of potential problems, effective solutions and all information on implementation in this region can give confidence to those who are going to implement a non-handicapping environment. I believe that APCD and AI network members (for example, FTP and resources persons) can play an important role in using all the experience gained in the series of workshops."

Dr. James D. Harrison, United Kingdom


"The value of bringing together policy makers and trained participants, who are able to demonstrate their achievements, is the major advance in the course. Thus, the course can utilize real-life examples of initiatives taken by members in the region, and share their experience and knowledge with the other participants in a meaningful way. One enduring question is "how to sustain the momentum gained by the course, and ensure that all participants produce positive outcomes on returning to their home countries."The continuity of APCD's program is thus a vital aspect of any evaluation, and of any forward planning."

Mr. Yoshihiko Kawauchi, Japan


Mr. Kawauchi (left) and the Workshop Participants
"During the workshop I couldn't help wondering why I was participating as a resource person. It's true in Japan we have learned much from the USA and Europe about accessibility and issues related to disabilities. We then applied that knowledge with necessary modifications to meet our needs. Each participant here can do the same based on what we shared. It was significant to have the policy makers included since a lack of awareness and understanding of disabilities is the biggest obstacle in establishing policies related to persons with disabilities."

Dr. Satoshi Kose, Japan


"With the mix of former trainers and newly enrolled policy makers, the 2004 Workshop covered different viewpoints, which are quite often difficult to gain when one is in their home country. The policy makers usually make their decisions from their own experience and knowledge, that is a top-down approach. Listening to various views and ideas, getting to know different situations of other participants and other countries, all of these were beneficial for these policy makers who joined the Workshop. They will be able to take up their roles with a broadened view. For example, with a bottom-up approach mixed with their former one when they will similarily take up the task."He also left some words for all the participants. "Now you have the knowledge and will soon have the tool to continue the training in your own country (with the package of videos). So it is your turn to train your colleagues, and to increase the number of people who understand and are willing to join the forces. Keep going!"

APCD wishes all participants success in their future endeavours as they seek to meet the needs of PWDs.



[page 3]

Independent Living Seminar

Report on the 3rd National Seminar on Independent Living, Social Impact and Local Participation
26-30 January 2004, Bangkok and Pattaya

Participants and resource persons of the seminar during the opening ceremony
APCD organized a one-day seminar of Independent Living (IL) at the Prince Palace Hotel in Bangkok on 26 February 2004 in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled (RVSD). It was an introduction to the IL concept for concerned individuals wishing to learn more about the project and demonstrate what has been accomplished by the project in the past two years. Mr. Apai Chantanachulaka, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, who gave the inaugural speech showed much interest in the Thai IL project. Approximately 300 persons participated, such as governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, students, and the mass media. The one day seminar was followed by four days training at the RVSD in Pattaya.

The morning sessions introduced IL and the implementations by the 3 pilot projects in the past 2 years; Chonburi Association of PWDs from Chonburi, Nonthaburi Society of PWDs from Nonthaburi, and Nakorn pratom Club for the Disabled from Nakorn pratom. Afternoon sessions were open floor sessions for group discussion covering the following three topics.

How does the IL concept of PWDs affect the services of other private and public sectors provided for PWDs?
How does the role of organizations at the grass-roots level support the IL of PWDs?
How does the attitude of society affect PWDs?
Some Participants' Voices

"It's very difficult to define the origin of the IL movement, which sprang from two main sources: the efforts of disabled persons to seek a more fulfilling life in an able-bodied world and of reaching integrated rehabilitation for persons with severe disabilities. IL has focused on the following points:

PWDs are not persons living in institutions but are persons living in their communities.
PWDs are not patients or children who need to be taken care of and protected by their parents.
PWDs can control their lives, express their needs and manage by themselves.
PWDs are not suffering from their disabilities but rather from social prejudices.
PWDs should not be shy or embarrassed to ask for help regarding their necessary needs.
The most important factor for PWDs to live independently is to make their own decisions regarding their needs."
Interviews

APCD interviewed two resource persons for the seminars, Mr. Shoji Nakanishi and Ms. Kyoko Kawamoto.

Q1     What is your opinion about the theme of this year's Independent Living?

A
Mr. Nakanishi: This is the last year of the 3 year training program. I am so happy that we met the goals of the previous 2 years and are now moving into training for the establishment of an independent living center as an outcome of the past two years' training in which we emphasized peer counseling. I thought it would be too early for IL center management training but from what I have seen there should be no difficulty to achieve the goal. That is one reason why I decided on the theme for this year's training. Initially, the training appeared difficult for the participants to understand but after giving more practical examples, participants easily understood.

Ms. Kawamoto: Contents of the 3rd year training program covered the:

concept of an IL center as an advocator and implementer
role and responsibility of the human resource development officer in an IL center
training of disabled and non-disabled workers and
system of day-care services in the organization.
I think that the contents were carefully developed and covered all matters necessary to run an independent living center.

Q2     What are your expectations from the outcome of this training course?

A
Mr. Nakanishi: IL projects have already been operating for two years in the three provinces. Participants submitted a program for next year at the end of the training and the contents were almost the same. Provincial governments have decided to support these programs by providing funds for 50% of the expenditures. That is great progress to have public funds utilized for this IL program. Next, it will be important to establish a system for personal assistants. Today, many countries in Asia are competing to establish an IL center. For that reason, I hope more Asian resource persons can participate in the training from next year onwards.

Ms. Kawamoto: I think participants of this training are able to establish an IL center for PWDs. I strongly believe that more IL centers will be established in addition to the 3 pilot projects. More PWDs will become aware of the importance of IL. They will then be able to support other countries as well.

[page 4]
APCD Mission Report

Mission to Nepal
11-18 February 2004

H.E. Mr. Renu Yadav, State Minister, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and APCD Director
APCD sent a mission team to Kathmandu,Nepal from 11-18 February 2004. The team attended and observed the Capacity-Building Training/Seminar for People with Disabilities (CBTS) in the Asia-Pacific Region, which was organized by Disabled Peoples' International and supported by JICA. APCD mission members interviewed participants from various countries including Nepal to collect organizational data and find the needs of individuals and organizations. The mission also presented the APCD project and its program to the CBTS.

The mission team also visited and identified the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare as APCD's Government focal point. They visited some Nepalese NGOs such as the Social Welfare Council of Nepal, the National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFD-Nepal), and the Nepal Disabled Human Rights Center (DHRC). DHRC is a nongovernmental organization that publishes their own monthly newsletter on disability concerns and has a weekly radio program on disability issues.

In addition to the above mentioned organizations, the mission visited a Community-Based Rehabilitation Program at the Resource Center for Rehabilitation and Development, Bhaktapur which was very impressive, seeing the concerns and unity of the community and families of persons with disabilities in this area.

Collaboration between the organizations of/for persons with disabilities in Nepal and APCD will continue to promote empowerment of persons with disabilities and to build a "Society for All" in Nepal!

Mission to the Republic of Vanuatu
7-13 March 2004

APCD Mission with Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Edward Nipake Natapei in Vanuatu
The APCD mission team undertook a mission to the Republic of Vanuatu via Australia from 7-13 March 2004, and identified the Prime Minister's Office as the Government's focal point organization. The Honorable Mr. Edward Nipake Natapei, Prime Minister was very interested in the APCD program and is planning to set up a Disability Desk at the Prime Minister's Office including the establishment of a National Coordinating Council on Disability, which will serve as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disability for the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.

The mission team also identified the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA) as the NGO focal point in Vanuatu, chaired by Mr. John Suran. APCD acknowledged that this is the only organization of PWDs in Vanuatu and the umbrella organization for all kinds of activities of PWDs. The mission team visited the Vanuatu Society for Disabled People (VSDP) and VANDISPORTS, an informal sports club for PWDs, which is under the umbrella of VSDP. They met with Mr. Nikenike Vurobaravu and Mr. Alastair Wilkinson, the Head and Regional Advisor on Social Development and Planning of the ESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (ESCAP/ EPOC) respectively. APCD and ESCAP/EPOC discussed future collaboration on social development issues for PWDs in countries of the Pacific Oceania area especially as information networking focal/associate organizations.

A highlight and honour for the mission team was attending the Presentation Ceremony of the Pacific Human Rights Award to the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association (DPA) sponsored by the Fiji Human Rights Commission and Vanuatu Human Rights Organization.

[page 5]

APCD Project Activities

Summary of APCD Activities
(January-March 2004)
Since the beginning of 2004, APCD has continually implemented activities to empower and promote a barrier-free society for PWDs in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region. A brief summary of the activities from January-March 2004 include:

Networking and Collaboration activities included dispatching two mission teams; one team went to Nepal from 11-18 February 2004 and the other went to the Republic of Vanuatu from 7-13 March 2004.
The Human Resource Development Division conducted 3 workshops:
A Training Program on Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities held from 26-30 January 2004.
Non-handicapping Environment Workshop for Trainers and Policy Makers held from 22-28 February 2004.
Human Rights Workshop on Marginalized Disability Groups: Voices of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities held from 16-18 March 2004.
APCD's Information Support activities continue to develop by updating an accessible website for all, including the development of information exchange and dissemination, through networks, linkage, APCD's publications comprised of the APCD Empowerment Newsletter VI and the completion of 5 more country profiles, consisting of Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They will be uploaded to the website in the very near future.

A glance at APCD's upcoming activities in the next 6 months 
(April-September 2004)
April
7th Newsletter
17-23: Mission to Pakistan
28-4 May: HRD Mission to Viet Nam
May
9-14: Mission to Indonesia
23-26: HRD Mission to Myanmar
June
1-5: HRD Mission to India
7-12: Mission to Malaysia
22 -9 July: Regional Workshop on Accessible Web-based Information Networking
July
14-22: Mission to China/Mongolia
August
10-30: Training Workshops: Capacity Building for Self-Help Organizations for PWDs
14-21: South African Delegation
17: Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for the Decade of People with Disabilities: Orientation to APCD
23-26: Mission to Bhutan
September
7-11: Mission to the Philippines

Progress of the APCD Building Construction
 
Since the Ground-breaking Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability Building presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 19 September 2004, construction has progressed.

To date, all the structural and concrete work has been completed with the buildings scheduled to be completed in December 2004.

[page 6]

Regional News

Regional News: January-March 2004
Technical Aid for Persons with Visual Impairments (Asian and Oceanian) 
13 January-14 March 2004 
JICA, Japan
"Technical Aid for Persons with Visual Impairments (Asian and Oceanian)" was held at the Japan Vocational Development Center for the Blind, Inc. in Japan from 13 January14 March 2004. This course was targeted for managers and trainers of educational institutions and rehabilitation facilities for persons with visual impairments, including representatives of organizations of/for persons with visual impairments; to understand the difficulties and problems faced by persons with visual impairments when accessing information, acquire knowledge of supportive technology and universal design, obtain knowledge necessary to plan, establish, operate, maintain, and control a supportive technology system; to formulate a practical plan of action to spread and promote information accessibility and communication technology among persons with visual impairments and their instructors in one's own country.

Disability Groups Win Their First Pacific Human Rights Awards
25 February 2004 
DPI, Vanuatu

APCD representatives at the Presentation Ceremony of the Pacific Human Rights Award to the Disability Promotion and Advocacy Association, Vanuatu
Disability organizations won 2 of 6 awards for the first time in the history of the Pacific Human Rights Awards. The Fiji Disabled People's Association (FDPA) won first prize under the Fiji category while Disability Promotions and Advocacy of Vanuatu was the first runner-up in the Regional category. The prize money offered each year by the Regional Rights Resource Team, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project, totaled US$ 4,172.

The FDPA picked up the award for "demonstrating exemplary initiative in promoting and advancing the human rights of people living with disabilities in Fiji" and for "outstanding work in empowering people with disabilities to participate in decision-making", for its effort in mainstreaming disability issues and empowering people with disabilities.

DPA Vanuatu won the award for "demonstrating exemplary initiative in promoting and advancing the human rights of people with disabilities in Vanuatu".

On behalf of APCD, congratulations to all organizations that received the 4th Pacific Human Rights Awards in both the Regional and Fiji categories. Keep up the good work!
(Source: www.dpi.org and the Pacific Disability Forum)

Working Group of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
5-16 January 2004 
United Nations, New York, USA.
After the second meeting in June 2003, the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities decided to establish a Working Group to prepare and present a draft text of a convention as a basis for negotiation by Member States. It was also decided that after "the Working Group met for one session of 10 working days at the United Nations Headquarters in New York early in 2004, they would present the outcome of their draft text to the Ad Hoc Committee at its 3rd session."

Capacity-Building Training/Seminar for People with Disabilities in Asia-Pacific Region (CBTS)
13-17 February 2004 
Kathmandu, Nepal

Country's representatives and resource persons at the CBTS, Kathmandu, Nepal
A Capacity-Building Training Seminar (CBTS) for PWDs in the Asia-Pacific Region with the theme, "Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for PWDs" was held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 13-17 February 2004. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sponsored the Seminar organized by Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Region (DPIAP) and supported by DPI Nepal. The purpose was to provide participants from Asia and the Pacific countries with an opportunity to strengthen individual and organizational capacities in order to promote and achieve equality and full participation for persons with disabilities with an emphasis on their integration as implementers and community development workers in relevant national development efforts.

Participants were able to acquire a) knowledge and skills for people with disabilities in countries without national Disabled Peoples' Organizations (DPOs), to establish their own national cross-disability, self-help organizations, and enable them to strengthen their groups with national PWDs organizations, b) information to enhance the capacities of DPOs and to enable integration of their needs and concerns in national development efforts, c) knowledge and skills for disabled leaders and community developers enabling them to be involved in the national development process as implementers of the UN World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons and to implement the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action (BMF), and d) to further the knowledge and skills of technicians and employees with disabilities who are already rendering services toward the development of their countries.

Twenty-seven participants from 27 countries of the Asia-Pacific Region consisted of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, the Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam also attended the seminar.

The 2nd International Seminar on Disability 
12-15 March 2004 
Lahore, Pakistan

Representatives from Pakistan's NGOs and the Duskin Ainowa APCD News Foundation at the Seminar in Lahore, Pakistan
The Milestone Society for Special Persons, the LIFE Independent Living Center, Disabled Peoples' International Pakistan and the Asia and Pacific Network for Independent Living organized a 2nd International Seminar on Disability from 12-15 March 2004 in Lahore, Pakistan with co-supporters of the City of Lahore and Duskin Ainowa Foundation. The purpose was to understand disability and empower persons with disabilities in Pakistan, by learning the differences between the Japanese and Pakistani Disability Movements, examining the needs of PWDs, establishing a collaborative relationship between PWDs and government officials, being aware of the disability issues in the community, and exchanging knowledge on disability issues and the Independent Living Movement in Pakistan and Japan.

The 20th Anniversary Pacific Rim Conference on Disability
29-30 March 2004 
Hawaii, USA.
Since the 1st Pacific Rim Conference in 1985, the scope and size of this event has grown with targeted countries 20comprised of Australia, Japan, Pacific Island Nations, the Philippines, mainland USA, etc. The 20th Anniversary Pacific Rim Conference on Disability (PacRim 2004) brought 20together PWDs, family members, researchers, professionals, and students from various fields, such as health, education, social services, etc. Presenters represented a variety of disciplines including health, medicine, social science, and the disability field. This year's theme was "Promises to Keep, Futures to Seek concerning opportunities created for PWDs.

The PacRim 2004 conference focused on topics of importance and current trends to the Pacific Rim area from building communities to valuing diversity and support for all persons. It included the Lifelong Inclusion in Education and Community; Technology Across the Ages; Parent Partnerships and Family Supporters; Employment and Adult Services; and Body, Mind, and Spirit.

Seminar/Exhibition on the Information Technology Project under the Initiatives of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
12-13 February 2004 
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand
This seminar aimed to show respect on the occasion of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's 48th Birthday Anniversary and acknowledge the success of the Information Technology Project for Disadvantaged and Marginalized Groups. Events in the seminar/exhibition consisted of exchanging information and experience between academic scholars, the project committee, and representatives of related organizations to the project. This also provided an opportunity to present, promote and exhibit the progress of implementations related to the project and assistive device technologies.

DUSKIN Follow-up Seminar
15-19 February 2004
Twin Tower Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
This intensive seminar was part of the follow-up activities for ex-Duskin Trainees who have contributed in the disability field in their countries. It provided participants with the opportunity to learn methods of practical project-making based on community needs. The program included making presentations of their activities and analyzing problems confronted in their communities. The goal was to enable them to create more efficient and practical projects utilizing local resources. This seminar was organized by the Secretariat of Duskin Leadership Training in Japan under the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD).

There were 10 participants with disabilities whom were ex-Duskin trainees from 10 countries comprised of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Taiwan.

Ms. Ormporn Nitthayasuthi, APCD Project Manager, was pleased to give the opening speech. She hopes there will be collaboration between APCD and ex-Duskin trainees in the future since they could be our potential resource persons to work towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

 
Regional News: Upcoming Events
Workshop on Disability Statistics and Measurement
24-28 May 2004 
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand
"Workshop on Disability Statistics and Measurement" organized by UNESCAP, the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to promote capacity building in disability measurement in the Region. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) will be used as a framework for the training, focusing on data collection issues where participants will carry out pilot testing of disability questions and prepare national training materials during the project.

The 60th Commission Session
22-28 April 2004 
Shanghai, China
The 60th session of the UNESCAP is scheduled to be held at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, China from 22-28 April 2004.

The 10th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People: "Universal Transportation and Road Design: Strategies for Success"
23-26 May 2004 
Hamamatsu, Japan
This conference, under the general auspices of the Transportation Research Board, is to promote considerable progress in improving the lives of people with physical disabilities. Since the last conference held in Warsaw, Poland with 200 participants from 29 countries and 5 continents, progress has been made to improve the lives of people who are visually, cognitively, and hearing impaired. This is the first time the conference will be held in the Asia and Pacific Region aiming to serve as a forum to introduce new strategies for implementing economically sustainable accessible transportation and encourage continued research in this area.

The 3rd Session of the Ad Hoc Committee
24 May-4 June 2004 
United Nations, New York, USA.
The Ad Hoc Committee decided to establish a Working Group with the aim of preparing and presenting a draft text of a Convention at its 2nd session from 16-25 June 2003. This Working Group met in New York from 5-16 January 2004. The General Assembly decided in Resolution 58/246, the Working Group will present its draft text to the 3rd Session of the Ad Hoc Committee.

Asia-Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) Executive Committee Meeting
14 June 2004
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand
United Nations Regional Coordination Mechanism: 8th Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-Related Concerns
15-16 June 2004 
UNCC, Bangkok, Thailand
8th International Congress on Including Children and Youth with Disabilities in the Community
14-18 June 2004 
Stavanger, Norway
This Congress will focus on building self-determination and self-reliance at the local level for children and adults of all abilities. The theme is "Towards Full Citizenship". Organizers are hoping that country teams will represent a) children or adults with a disability and/or a family member, b) providers of services (health, education, social services), c) policymakers, d) disability or human rights advocates, and e) community-level representatives to promote inclusion at the community level.

Special Event
International Day of Disabled Persons
(IDD) 2003 in Myanmar

Myanmar observed the IDD Ceremony at the International Business Center in Yangon on 3 December 2003. Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council, Lt. Gen. Thein Sein gave the opening speech, presenting gifts and certificates of honor to the outstanding PWDs. The Minister for Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement, Maj.Gen. Sein Htwa and officials also presented prizes to 84 PWDs who had participated in 26 competitions from 17-21 November 2003. They included sports competitions, painting, canework, singing, dancing, sewing and hair dressing at the respective special schools for PWDs.

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Editorial Message

Warm greetings to all readers of the APCD Empowerment Newsletter! As you can see, APCD is working hard, having already implemented many activities in 2004, to provide the most beneficial services for our target group. Our newsletter is a big mirror for you to see what has been and is scheduled to happen within APCD and the Region on disabilityrelated issues.

APCD staff was impressed to discover the interest in the Empowerment Newsletter when on missions to network and collaborate with developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. It was most encouraging. Your input in disability issues in the Asia-Pacific Region is always welcome!

APCD Editorial Team