REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM
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TWGDC7/MINUTES Seventh
session MINUTES
The
seventh session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related
Concerns (TWG-DC) was opened by the Chief, Population and Social
Integration, Emerging Social Issue Division, Mr. Jerrold Huguet.
In his opening statement, Mr. Huguet thanked participants for their
attendance regardless of an extremely busy period and he expressed
his deep appreciated for their commitment to further the implementation
of the goals of the BMF. In view of the decision taken by the second Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate such a treaty, UNESCAP organized a follow-up regional workshop in October 2003 to begin the process of elaborating draft text for the proposed elements of the convention. The outcome was the Bangkok Draft: Proposed Elements of a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention. The last ESCAP meeting in this series for this year was held in Beijing, 4-7 November 2003, jointly hosted by UNESCAP and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF). This meeting was specifically designed for high-ranking public officials who are decision-makers in sectors important to persons with disabilities but was also attended by distinguished leaders of civil society as observers. The highlight of the meeting was the unanimous adoption of the “Beijing Declaration”. On 20th November 2003 the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Mr.Kim Hak-Su, submitted both the Bangkok Draft and the Beijing Declaration to the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, His Excellency Mr. Luis Gallegos Chiriboga of Ecuador. These documents will form a part of the regional input to the Working Group which will meet in New York in January 2004. Mr. Huguet stated that we reached the end of the first year of the second Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012) and several countries of the region have already initiated development of national action plans towards the implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India. He concluded his speech by announcing that on 3 December UNESCAP would host a celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons at UNCC. The theme for this year is “A voice of our own”, a theme in keeping with the first and second priority areas of the BMF. He hoped that many of the participants would stay to join ESCAP team for this event. The
seventh session of the TWG-DC was by chaired by Mr. Frank Hall-Bentick,
a member of the Executive Committee of the newly formed regional
network of NGOs, the Asia-Pacific Disability Forum (APDF). The TWG-DC adopted the following agenda. A.
Meetings of Task Forces B. Plenary session 1.
Welcome statement of Mr. Jerrold Huguet, Chief, Population and Social
Integration Section, Emerging Social Issues III. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SIXTH SESSION OF THE TWG-DC The minutes of the sixth session of the TWGDC, held at Bangkok on3 June 2003, were adopted with minor changes (please find the attached amended version of the minutes of the sixth session) IV. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no matter arising form the minutes of the sixth session after the minor amendments. V. AGENDA ITEM 10: TASK FORCE ACTION REPORTS Brief reports were presented from the seven Task Forces listed in the agenda. Full Task Force reports are presented in the Annex II. a. Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The task force reported about the update on WSIS and its potential contribution to persons with disabilities. It was reported by Ms. Nomura. After the last meeting, several preparatory meetings were held and the Paragraph 20b was included in the draft Declaration of Principles after the meeting of the preparatory committee was held in July 2003; however the paragraph was deleted during the PREPCOM 3 meeting that took place in September 2003, not due to any opposition but for the sake of shortening the document. With the hard work done by the disability focal point in the civil society bureau of WSIS and strong campaign among disability communities around the world, the concept of universal design, assistive technologies and web accessibility standard and other references to the needs and requirements of persons with disabilities was included in several paragraphs of the draft Declaration of Principals and draft Plan of Actions on November 14 (please refer to the relevant paragraphs of the WSIS draft in the Annex III). The final statements will be decided by the high-level preparatory meeting from 5-6 of December. During the WSIS meeting a Global Disability Forum will be held on 10 December 2003 as a summit event. As a comment about the WSIS, the hard work done by Monthian and Hiroshi was recognized, but great concern about the enforcement of the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action and very limited representation of disabled persons at the related meetings. The TWG-DC hopes that it will be a good opportunity to make world leaders aware of importance of ICT for persons with disabilities and have the disability-related recommendation implemented actively by including disability issues and needs in the mainstream document which will be endorsed and signed by those leaders at the WSIS. The ICT task force suggested that UNESCAP support and publish a study conducted by the ICT Task Force of TWG-DC on the achievement of ICT areas in the Asian and Pacific countries in accordance with the BMF priority area F. ICT Task Force members agreed that there should be a clear follow-up mechanism of the Task Force concerning the drafting of the proposed study. b.
Education for All Children and Youth with Disabilities (EFA). Members
of TF EFA also participated in the UNESCO Institute of Education
(UIE) CONFINTEA V Mid-term review Conference, held from 6-11 September
in Bangkok. This conference focused on adult and non-formal education.
A week-end Workshop was held to discuss progress in thematic areas.
In 1997 in Hamburg the needs of persons with disabilities had not
been addressed at all. Recommendations on education for persons
with disabilities were generated and presented to the main Conference.
These were finally incorporated into the Call for Action and Accountability,
and the Final Report, after some strenuous advocacy and objection
to inadequate initial representation of the recommendations made. A presentation of the achievements of the first Asian and Pacific Decade in the area of education was made at the Rehabilitation International Regional Africa Conference held in Durban, South Africa, 28 September to 2 October 2003. As part of this conference there was a working group and presentations on the ICF for Children (discussed by Dr Pupulin at the June meeting of TF EFA). There was opportunity to exchange information with persons working in the Africa Decade for Disabled Persons, and to advocate to the Oslo Secretariat of the new Flagship on “Education for All and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion”, to consider establishing a regional working group on the Flagship in the Asian and Pacific Region. Additional advocacy had been made by Olof Sandkull, UNESCO Bangkok Office to UNESCO, Paris Headquarters. TF EFA was indirectly represented at the Steering Committee Meeting of the Flagship, held in Kampala, Uganda, 14-15 November 2003. As a result of the strong activity in the Asian and Pacific region on issues concerning the education of children and youth with disabilities, the Ad Hoc Working Group for Asia and the Pacific region was established, and it was agreed in principle that there should be a Working Group established in each UNESCO region of the world. Civil society as well as Governments will need to work hard with UNESCO to define and achieve the goals of the regional Flagship Working Group. Draft Terms of Reference were presented but need refining. It is hoped that TF EFA will be actively engaged with the Flagship within the region. Additional
Working Groups formed included: c.
Employment. She explained that ILO Conventions are only ratified, not signed, making them different from UN Conventions. She elaborated that the system for ratifying ILO Conventions are different as compared to other UN Conventions. They are not signed but at the point of ratification the country is obliged to meet the conditions of the Convention. ILO Conventions do not allow for reservations, therefore, those countries that ratify do so accepting the Convention in its entirety. She explained that the Convention has both policy and action measures. It requires that ratifying countries have a policy for vocational rehabilitation that is based on equal treatment and equal opportunity for workers with disabilities as compared to regular workers and that it includes measures for employment promotion in the open workplace. Special measures that are introduced to enhance the process are not to be seen as discriminatory in respect of other workers. She further explained that the policy and implementing actions must address all disability groups, women and men and urban and rural areas. There are also measures related to ensuring that countries have trained staff to implement the policy and actions. Ms. Perry advised that more than 70 countries have ratified Convention 159 worldwide and among them 7 in this region (ILO definition of the region): Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Philippines. The Task Force focused on action-oriented follow up activities including (i) a practically oriented one-day Workshop that will be staged in November-December 2004, (ii) establishment of a Working Group to plan and stage the Workshop, with Debra Perry as the Convener and (iii) resuscitation of the list-serve that was created but not utilized in June 2003 The Task Force reported that there was discussion about the work of the Education Task Force and where vocational training and education fits in. Does it fall through the cracks of this Task Force and the Education Task Force? It was agreed that this is a legitimate issue and as such will be followed up by the Chairman, who will approach the Chair of the Education Task Force to discuss. It was reported that there has recently been work undertaken on legislative measures and their efficacy. It was affirmed that legislation had been weak on eliminating discrimination but stronger on affirmative action. It was agreed that this is an area that will require further attention in the future. Finally, the task force informed the participants of its decision of expanding its mandate to cover the issue of poverty alleviation (BMF goal No. 7) with special emphasis on small business enterprises (self-employment, access to micro-credit, etc.). d.
Timor Leste and Afghanistan. A national workshop on CBR will be held in Dili from 19 to 20 January, as a follow up to the above-mentioned workshops in 2001. The purpose of this workshop is to empower persons with disabilities and building up their capacity. The RI Asian and Pacific Regional Committee will contribute US$ 10,000 for organization of this workshop. RI representative from Hong Kong-China, together with a team of UN ESCAP, are going to attend this workshop as key resource persons. During the Workshop, Timor Leste will be the 44th signatory country to the proclamation of the Asian and Pacific Decade, and there will be a ceremony for signing with presence of two ESCAP representatives, in its capital Dili, on 19 January 2004. In August 2004, DPI is organizing a national leadership training course in Timor Leste and around 30 persons will be empowered through this project. (Afghanistan) In September 2003, UNESCAP send a mission to Kabul on formulation of a comprehensive national policy on disability issues, upon request from the Government of Afghanistan, Ministry of the Martyrs and the Disabled (MMD). Kay Nagata went to Kabul and worked together with a team headed by a special adviser for the Minister, H.E. Mr. Wardak, namely Dr. Majid (who left the country at the end of October 2003). The Ministry organized the first national workshop on national policy, held in October 2003, in Kabul. Representatives (mainly persons with disabilities) from all provinces of the country attended this two day meeting in October, and they developed the comprehensive national disability policy in Afghanistan (available on UNESCAP home page). The outcome document was officially submitted to the Minister and a follow up to this workshop is urgently required in order to enhance the process of issuing the final version of the comprehensive policy as the country’s official policy. The policy outline (draft) is similar to the BMF in terms of priority, but among 7 priority areas of the BMF, particular emphasis was given to (i) rehabilitation, (ii) inclusive education and (iii) employment of persons with disabilities. e.
Self-help Organizations (SHOs). The TF Coordinator shared an experience of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) to organize The 1st National Leadership Training for Persons with Disabilities in Afghanistan in Kabul, August 2003 in order to facilitate them to form a national assembly of PWD. He had observed that due to past prolonged wars, many Afghanistan people had been still struggling for their own day-to-day survival and seemed less interested in issues indirect to his/her daily living or own interest. Although DPI found significance in organizing such training, it was very challenging and required relevant follow-up in a long run. However, immediate action to support PWDs in Afghanistan should be emphasized on rehabilitation and welfare. f. Women with disabilities (WWD). This was the second meeting of the TF on WWD, a new issue and among the most important targets of the BMF (because it had suffered from neglect for so long). The Task Force reported that the first national workshop on WWDs Leadership Training Seminar was organized by DPI Thailand in collaboration with governmental organizations on 13-14 November 2003 in Bangkok. Twenty young women leaders with cross disability were trained at Rachanukul Institute to develop and strengthen their empowerment, and promote self-help organizations they represented. The report focused on planned follow-up activities of the Task Force including (i) establishment of a wider WWDs network of Task Force by linkage between PWDs and gender organizations through the Gender Section of UNESCAP. (ii) making a strong effort to make WWD issues as a policy of UNIFEM and (iii) follow- up to and study of the action plans and country reports on WWDs issues of DPOs in Asian and Pacific and other regions. An issue of effective coordination and collaboration between the TF of WWD and TF of SHOs was raised, and it was agreed that an independent Task Force of WWD should remain; however, the ESCAP Secretariat was encouraged to ensure the most appropriate logistics to enable TF-WWD and TW-SHO members to participate in both Task Force meetings, consecutively in a same meeting room. g.
International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity
of Persons with Disabilities. The Task Force shared with the participants the following observations: Ø Many PWDs were a part of government delegations, yet most were neither active nor discouraged to express their views. Active participation is called for. Ø Beijing Seminar was a significant step ahead to affirm human rights convention on disability. Ø China and India are preparing a draft on a proposed convention respectively. When ESCAP has a copy, it will be uploaded on the web site. Ø Philippines officially endorsed the Bangkok Draft. Ø We should stick to basic principles of human rights convention on disability, but we should be tactful and flexible to persuade governments. For further details, please find the minutes of the Task Force in the Annex. VI.
Reports of specific action plans towards implementation of the BMF
to December 2004 APDF Mr. Shoji Nakanishi (vice chairperson of APDF) introduced the following main objectives of Asia Pacific Disability Form (APDF) whose first General Assembly had been held in Singapore on 26-28 November 2003 and the Constitution of APDF was drafted and endorsed; ·
To promote, participate in and evaluate the implementation of BMF The APDF developed an outcome document entitled “Resolutions of the Asia and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) Inaugural Meeting and Conference 2003: the Singapore Declaration”. The TWG-DC members belonging to NGOs were encouraged to apply for the APDF membership. The APDF will convene a major regional Conference once every 2 years with a host country from the region on a rotation basis, and between such Conferences, a series of the Executive Committee meetings will be held. The first Executive Committee Meeting of the APDF will be hosted by the UN ESCAP, and will be held in Bangkok (UNCC) on 14 June 2004 prior to the 8th session of TWG-DC (15-16 June 2004). The Chairperson of the APDF is Ms. Judy Wee (Singapore) for the current 2 year term and the initial Secretariat of the APDF will be in Tokyo (Prof. Ryosuke Matsui/Ms. Etsuko Ueno, JSRPD). To promote the effective implementation of the BMF targets and goals, several task force groups such as a task force on women and disability, a task force on research, a task force on convention, etc. were formed. UNESCAP The UNESCAP Secretariat reported the 4 key strategic areas of the BMF for 2004 and 2005, which are (i) disability statistics and monitoring of the implementation of the BMF (regional meeting on monitoring the implementation, to be held in Bangkok in October 2004), (ii) rights-based approach (a few follow-up activities to the International Convention, twice a year), and (iii) development of a national plan of action (a meeting on national policy on disabilities, to be held in 2005). Among 7 sectoral priority targets, the focus of 2004 will be poverty alleviation, and ESCAP planed a project of 10-day field visit cum seminar on poverty alleviation will be organized by the UN ESCAP, hosted by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (latter half of 2004, in China). UNESCAP is soon publishing new publication highlightening success stories of PWG in the region, entitled “Focus on Ability, Cerebrate Diversity: Highlights of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002”. APCD A representative from the APCD reported the 3 key areas of APCD activities, namely networking and collaboration, human resources development and information support including accessible ICT for disabled users. The human resource development (HRD) wing of ACPD focuses on empowerment of PWDs through promotion of independent living (IL), community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and capacity building of self-help organizations of persons with disabilities. The networking covers working together with various partners such as PWDs, SHOs, NGOs, UN bodies and agencies, etc., including strengthening south-south cooperation among different regions. Information support includes promotion of information accessibility, web-site, and publishing of country profiles and quarterly newsletter of APCD. DPI/AP A representative of the DPI/AP briefed about planned activities during 2004. January – December 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Action Plan of DPI Asia/Pacific National
activity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inclusion International The ongoing Parent Empowerment Programme in the Pacific and Indonesia has made a good progress particularly with SHO groups in Samoa and Kiribati. A new project on disability survey in Tonga was commenced, so right now 10 countries are covered under the survey project. The most significant aspect of the work has been the strengthening of contact and collaboration with governments. In August 2003, at the annual Congress of Prime Ministers of the South Pacific, disability issues were on the agenda for the first time, directly as a result of representation to their government by a SHO in Vanuatu. A comprehensive report was prepared and submitted to the assembled leaders and the final communiqué contained a statement of concerns of PWD. Participation from the Pacific in the October ESCAP workshop on the Convention (held in Bangkok) and the ESCAP Seminar on the Convention (held in Beijing) indicated a strong commitment of PWDs in the Pacific region in the process toward the International Convention. II is most pleased to find that a representative of persons with intellectual disability, Mr. Robert Martine (Inclusion International, New Zealand) is selected to be a member of the Working Group commissioned under the Ac Hoc Committee. There will be a form on women with disabilities and a general form in Fiji next week. II will continue to be actively support SHOs, parents and PWDs. Volunteers for reporting during the 8th session It was agreed that in the 8th session of TWG-DC (June 2004) Ms. Debra Perry will brief about ILO plan of actions, and Bill Brohier will brief about planned activities of ICEVI and CBM.
VII. UNESCAP Report on 59th Commission session and
regionalmeetings on an International Convention to Promote and Protect
the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, held in Bangkok
in August and October, There was no report under this agenda as the relevant issues were already covered in the previous sections. Date of eighth session of TWGDC. Agreement was reached that this would be scheduled for 15-16 June 2004, immediately after the first session of the Executive Committee Meeting of the APDF (Bangkok). ESCAP will host the APDF Executive Committee session at UNCC Bangkok on 14 June 2004. APDF. It was agreed that APDF will choose a logo for the second Decade for UNESCAP’s adoption, and the selection process should be finalized before the end of 2004. UNESCAP Decade home page addresses. JSRPD reported that they would cooperate to disseminate BMF and the secretariat suggested that JSRPD should link to BMF. Web
page addresses: Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002
(First Decade) New
(Second) Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Person, 2003-2012
and BMF Thematic
Working Group on Disability-related Concerns APDF
On-line Forum TWGDC expressed their appreciation of the chair and co-chair.
HONG KONG, CHINA Mr Stephen Pang, Commissioner for Rehabilitation, Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Government Secretariat, 20/F., Murray Building, Garden Road, Hong Kong, China, Tel: (852)29738180, Fax: (852)2543 0486, Email: cforr@hwb.gen.gov.hk, hwbcfr@hwb.gov.hk, sklpang@hwfb.gov.hk JAPAN THAILAND ___________________________
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Action
on Disability and Development (ADD) Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) (cont’d) Ms Saranpat Anumatrajkij, Director, APCD, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Mr Akiie Ninomiya, APCD-JICA Chief Adviser, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Ms Naoko Ito, APCD-JICA Expert on HRD, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Mr Hisao Chiba, APCD-JICA Expert on ICT, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi, ICT Chief, APCD, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Ms Wandee Sirikan, Project Assistant, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Ms Rattana Duangrapruen, Project Assistant, APCD, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building, 255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619, Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Ms
Suwapa Prasitwises, APCD, 1st Floor, 60th Anniversary Building,
255 Rajvithi Road, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel: 66-2-247-2619,
Fax: 66-2-247-2375, Email: info@apcdproject.org Mr
Jason McKey, Managing Director, Job Placement Limited, 24 Blackwood
Road, Woodridge, Qld 4114, P.O. Box 825, Woodridge, Qld 4114, Australia Ms
Annette Emery, Assistant to Mr Frank Hall-Bentick Mr Shoji Nakanishi, Regional Chairperson, DPI-Asia Pacific, c/o 4-14-1-1 Myojincho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, 192-0046 Japan, Fax: 81-426-46-4876, Email: Yukin@din.or.jp Lt.
Col. Topong Kulkhanchit, Regional Development Officer, DPI Asia
Pacific Regional Office, 325 Bondstreet Road, Bangpood, Pakkred,
Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand Tel: 66-2-984-1007, Fax: 66-2-984-1008,
Mobile: 01 5581902, Email: dpiapro@loxinfo.co.th Mr
Donald Wills, Immediate Past President, Inclusion International,
and International Disability Alliance, G. Donald Wills Mr
Kim Mun Chol, Executive Exchange Secretary, Korean Association for
Supporting the Disabled, Tel: 850-2-381-7073, Fax: 850-2-381-7680,
Email: kasdmoon@yahoo.com Mr
Phillip French, People with Disability Australia Incorporated, PO
Box 666, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012, Tel: 02 9319-6622, Fax: 02 9318
1372, Email: SarniaS@pwd.org.au SECRETARIAT Mr
Kim Hak-Su Executive Secretary Ms
Thelma Kay Chief, Emerging Social Issues Division ______________ Annex II (a) Agenda item 1 a) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) TWGDC7/TFEDUC/MINUTES ENGLISH ONLY UNITED
NATIONS
MINUTES Chaired by Mr. Monthian Buntan, TAB Agenda 1.
Opening 2.
Self-introduction by all participants 3.
Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting 4.
Discussion and adoption of the meeting agenda 5.1
From the Chairman (1)
The WSIS (2) Accessibility Standard Conference to be held next January in Japan with the purpose to work on ISO accessibility standard. More information will be given later Ms. Nomura after getting from its website. (3)
Regional World Assembly of World Blind Union in Asia and the Pacific 5.2 From the participants Mr. Chiba reported about the web-based Net working workshop which was held for two weeks last July and organized by APCD in collaboration with UNESCAP and National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, Thailand with the aim to provide the training of producing an accessible homepage. Twenty-two people from twenty-two countries were invited in this workshop. Ms. Lasapan, information officer of APCD described the current activities of APCD from April 2003 to September 2003, such as publication of “Empowerment “ APCD Newsletter 3 an 4, updating their website and contact data of the related organization and people, and producing the data of country profile in the Asian and Pacific areas. Ms
Nomura from Japan reported "Forum on ICTs & Gender: Optimizing
Opportunities", which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 20-23.of
august. It was hosted by the Government of Malaysia with various
partners including UNESCAP. This forum contributed to the process
of drafting the statement of the WSIS with about 300 participants
from all regions, representing governments, civil society organizations
and the private sector. Very few representatives attended this forum
from disability community, but the disability awareness was Included
in the statement. More details are available at website HYPERLINK
"http://www.globalknowledge.org"www.globalknowledge.org
Mr. Polman from FAO reported the two ways approach. Mainstreaming of disability issue is capacity building of small farmers and landless including people with disabilities for the development of primary agricultural cooperatives and small business enterprises. FAO provided technical support to the Thai Government to enhance entrepreneurship for many woman groups including disabled people in their supported activities. It sponsors a regional network which represents in 11 Asian countries over 3 million agriculture cooperative members including disabled people. FAO strengthens capacity building of primary agricultural cooperatives through this network. FAO will organize a regional expert meeting about the use of ICT in agriculture cooperatives possibly in Delhi or Bangalore, India next March. Monthian reported the launch of DAISY for ALL Project initiated by the DAISY Consortium with a grant from the Nippon Foundation. The project consists of DAISY Software Production and open source development. The related trainers’ training is successfully conducted in Thailand and India as its first focal points. Additional thirty four developing countries will be targeted for this project within the next four years. 6. Follow-ups from the previous meeting 6.1
Update on WSIS and its potential contribution to persons with disabilities As a comment about the WSIS, the hard work done by Monthian and Hiroshi was highly evaluated, but great concern about the enforcement of Declaration of Principles and Plan of actions and few representation of disabled people at the related meeting. However all participants agreed it will be a good opportunity to make world leaders aware of importance of ICT for persons with disabilities and have the disability-related recommendation implement actively by putting disability issues in the mainstream documents which will be approved and signed by those leaders at the WSIS. * Paragraph 20b: Specific needs and requirements of all stakeholders, such as those with disabilities must be considered in ICT development. Accessibility and inclusiveness of ICTs is best done at an early stage of design, development and production, so that the Information Society is to become the society for all, at minimum cost 6.2
Further discussion on how to promote implementation of ICT accessibility
in the accordance with the BMF. 6.3
Recommendation for the ICT accessibility in the process of drafting
an International Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. At the very end of the convention, there should be a sentence which states “This convention shall be translated and disseminated in Languages and formats which are accessible to people with disabilities.” This recommendation was included in the draft recommendation from the Bangkok Meeting in June 2003. In addition the draft decision of the Ad-hoc Meeting of the Convention held in New York included this recommendation proposed by the Thai Government. 7.
ICT accessibility standard at international level (W3C, ISO, ITU,
etc) 8. Adjourn: the meeting adjourned at 10:45 AM A list of Participants 1. Mr. Monthian Buntan, Thailand Association of the Blind, Thailand 2. Ms. Akiko Akiyama, ESCAP 3. Mr. Laspan Toomsawasdi, APCD 4. Mr. Hisao Chiba, APCD 5. Mr. Pecharat Techavachara, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind 6. Mr. Mosharraf Hossain, Action on Disability and Development 7. Mr. Wim Polman, FAO 8. Mr. Kim Yong Chol, Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled (KASD) 9. Mr. Kim Mun Chol, Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled (KASD) 10 Ms Misako Nomura, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Agenda item 1 b) Education for All Children and Youth with Disabilities TWGDC7/TFEDUC/MINUTES ENGLISH ONLY UNITED
NATIONS 1 December
2003 MINUTES
1. The sixth session of the Task Force on Education for all Children and Youth with Disabilities was opened by Ms Penny Price and chaired by Mr Bill Brohier. The session was attended by 18 members, including 1 government representatives, and representatives of UNESCAP, and the Inter-American Development Bank. A. Adoption of the Agenda 2. The following agenda was adopted: Welcome and self-introductions Report of TF EFA activities. UNESCO
Flagship – what will it do in the Asian and Pacific region? B. Report of TF EFA activities 1.
Penny Price and Bill Brohier attended the SRF/TWG on EFA on 16th
June 2003. They advocated for the rights and concerns of children
and youth with disabilities to be included in all initiatives undertaken
by agencies represented and received a very positive response from
several of the UNESCO Flagship programmes, particularly the Flagships
on Monitoring and evaluation, Rural Education and Non-formal education.
2. Discussions were held with UNICEF advocating for the inclusion of disability issues in their meeting of regional Education advisers, and other activities. 3. Several members of TF EFA participated in the UNESCO Launch of the United Nations Literacy Decade, 8 September 2003, at IMPACT Arena Muangtonthani. Khun Panomwan Boontem presented her experiences in achieving literacy and the obstacles faced by young deaf persons in getting an education. Students from schools for the physically handicapped and school for the blind entertained delegates during the cultural performance in the evening. 4.
Members of TF EFA also participated in the UNESCO Institute of Education
(UIE) CONFINTEA V Mid-term review Conference, held from 6-11 September
in Bangkok. This conference focused on adult and non-formal education.
A week-end Workshop was held to discuss progress in thematic areas.
In 1997 in Hamburg the needs of persons with disabilities had not
been addressed at all. Recommendations on education for persons
with disabilities were generated and presented to the main Conference.
These were finally incorporated into the Call for Action and Accountability,
and the Final Report, after some strenuous advocacy and objection
to inadequate initial representation of the recommendations made. 6. A presentation of the achievements of the first Asian and Pacific Decade in the area of education was made at the Rehabilitation International Regional Africa Conference held in Durban, South Africa, 28 September to 2 October 2003. As part of this conference there was a working group and presentations on the ICF for Children (discussed by Dr Pupulin at the June meeting of TF EFA). There was opportunity to exchange information with persons working in the Africa Decade for Disabled Persons, and to advocate to the Oslo Secretariat of the new Flagship on “Education for All and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion”, to consider establishing a regional working group on the Flagship in the Asian and Pacific Region. Additional advocacy had been made by Olof Sandkull, UNESCO Bangkok Office to UNESCO, Paris Headquarters. 7. TF EFA was indirectly represented at the Steering Committee Meeting of the Flagship, held in Kampala, Uganda, 14-15 November 2003. As a result of the strong activity in the Asian and Pacific region on issues concerning the education of children and youth with disabilities, the Ad Hoc Working Group for Asia and the Pacific region was established, and it was agreed in principle that there should be a Working Group established in each UNESCO region of the world. Civil society as well as Governments will need to work hard with UNESCO to define and achieve the goals of the regional Flagship Working Group. Draft Terms of Reference were presented but need refining. It is hoped that TF EFA will be actively engaged with the Flagship within the region. Additional Working Groups formed included: Ad
Hoc Working Group on Education for All Plans
Action Plan will be formulated for two year period. Global coverage of the Flagship would be achieved by forming Working Groups in each region Goals, purpose, terminology and definitions must be clarified. Concern for children with ‘invisible disabilities’. Information Unit and website for the Flagship Newsletters and Flash News mechanism Important to develop partnerships for inclusion of disability concerns in all other UNESCO Flagships, particularly Flagship on teacher education. Flagship to engage in process towards elaboration of a UN Convention for persons with disabilities. Draft
Terms of Reference (TOR) had been developed for the following Working
Groups: Flagship could play a critical role in research. It was noted with regret that Olof Sandkull, UNESCO Bangkok, was unable to attend the meeting. D. Participant reports and on action to implement Biwako Millennium Framework (BMF) education targets. Mr Don Wills of Inclusion International reported on discussions held with UNICEF in New York, where UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment to children with disabilities, and requested information to be reported if this was not occurring at regional level. Mr Graham McKinstry of Inclusion International reported on the very successful work that has been undertaken in some Pacific Island Countries (PICs), by means of individual surveys which result in a data base which can be and is being used multi-sectorally in planning and programme implementation, particularly in the area of education in the Cook islands and Samoa. Surveys have been undertaken or are planned in 10 of 14 PICs. Children with disabilities are increasingly being included in regular schools, with teacher training provided to mainstream teachers to provide them with the skills necessary to teach a diverse range of abilities. Mr Phillip French of People with Disabilities, Australia, reported on developments in Australia concerning the adoption of Education Standards. Mr Sathapon of Roi-ET Education and rehabilitation Center for the Blind reported on an innovative approach at grassroots level to reduce barriers and negative attitudes faced by children with disabilities. A community initiated rehabilitation model had been introduced with the formation of self-help groups in two provinces. Mr Shoji Nakanashi, Chair DPI/AP, reported limited progress towards inclusive education in Japan. He stated that in view of the time-bound targets of BMF it was essential for the international disability community to be active on the issue of education for children with disabilities. A regional meeting could be held to benefit specific target countries. Mr Frank Hall-Bentick, Disability Australia, endorsed Mr Nakanashi’s emphasis on education and a broad movement towards inclusive education as no other strategy would be able to ensure access for all children with disabilities, particularly those in rural and remote areas. Pragmatic strategies need to be developed and implemented to attain the BMF goals. Mr Bill Brohier, CBM-SEAPRO and ICEVI, reported that inclusion of blind children was taking place in Inner Mongolia. E.
Report on progress towards an international Convention for Persons
with Disabilities. F.
Other matters Recommendations: 1. TF EFA should look at the text of the Bangkok Draft and any new text that emerges after the meeting in New York in January 2004. This item should be placed on the agenda for the first Task Force meeting in 2004. 2. TF EFA should invite the Director of UNICEF, Bangkok, to address the next task force meeting, in 2004. 3. TF EFA should work closely with the focal point for the Flagship in the UNESCO Bangkok office, and should generate ideas and strategies for the effective implementation of the Flagship in the Asian and Pacific region. List of TF EFA members who attended the meeting on 1 December 2003: Agenda item 1 c) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment TWGDC7/TFEDUC/MINUTES ENGLISH ONLY UNITED
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MINUTES The Chairman, Ms Debra Perry, welcomed all present and introductions were made (see appendix for list of all attendees). Mr Bryan Woodford volunteered to be the Minute-taker. The Chairman noted that several of those present were attending their first Task Force meeting. Some were attending their second meeting. A few had been to several sessions. It was agreed that the lack of a stable membership had hindered the Task Force’s progress. The Chairman presented an informal agenda: 1.
Introduction This agenda was adopted. Noting some confusion arising out of the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Task Force, the Chairman provided clarification of ILO Convention 159. She explained that ILO Conventions are only ratified, not signed, making them different from UN Conventions. She elaborated that the system for ratifying ILO Conventions are different as compared to other UN Conventions. They are not signed but at the point of ratification the country is obliged to meet the conditions of the Convention. ILO Conventions do not allow for reservations, therefore, those countries that ratify do so accepting the Convention in its entirety. She explained that the Convention has both policy and action measures. It requires that ratifying countries have a policy for vocational rehabilitation that is based on equal treatment and equal opportunity for workers with disabilities as compared to regular workers and that it includes measures for employment promotion in the open workplace. Special measures that are introduced to enhance the process are not to be seen as discriminatory in respect of other workers. She further explained that the policy and implementing actions must address all disability groups, women and men and urban and rural areas. There are also measures related to ensuring that countries have trained staff to implement the policy and actions. The Chairman advised that more than 70 countries have ratified Convention 159 worldwide and 7 in this region: Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Philippines. This is actually a high ratification rate for a Convention that is not considered one of the ILO core Conventions. The Chairman suggested that the BMF should now provide the focus for the immediate and on-going work of the Task Force. It was confirmed that there had been no recent amendments to the BMF. Noting that the BMF was specific in respect of employment, the Chairman reminded the Task Force that the BMF had three vocational targets: Target 10: That at least 30% of the signatories will ratify ILO Convention 159 by 2012. Target 11: By 2012, at least 30% of all vocational training programs in signatory countries will be inclusive of persons with disabilities and provide appropriate support and job placement or business development opportunities for them. Target 12: By 2010, reliable data that measures the employment and self-employment employment rates of persons with disabilities will exist in all countries. The Chairman advised that in respect of Target 11, the percentage is currently abysmally low and, moreover, that in respect of Target 12, only a very limited number of countries collect the required data. Discussion took place on the current situation in a number of countries in the region and it was agreed that even in the most developed countries in the Asia Pacific, there is some way to go. Referring to the very recent ILO publication “Moving Forward – toward decent work for people with disabilities”, the Chairman observed that the book responded to the BMF’s Action Statement 11 (“Regional organisations, including those of persons with disabilities, in collaboration with national governments and international agencies, should develop mechanisms for the collection and dissemination of information related to good practices in all aspects of training and employment, especially those that reflect regional and cultural needs.”) The Chairman reported that the book had arisen out of the work of the Task Force. The Group, however, noted that the Chairman had provided the driving force and warmly congratulated her on her accomplishment. Discussion took place with the following points being noted: In January 2003, the ILO had convened a special meeting to introduce the BMF to regional Governments, Trade Unions and Employers. Employer groups had been particularly well represented. The ILO in Geneva has just published substantial data about employment from around the world. The Chairman has not yet had a chance to assess this data. A view was put that regional Governments need to be encouraged to provide specialised vocational assistance and support to people with disabilities. A suggestion was also made that the proposed UN International Convention on Persons with Disabilities needs to be beefed up in respect of vocational training.
The Chairman posed the question “Where to from here?” and a number of actions were agreed: Work from hereon in needs to be practical, not theoretical. Expertise exists in the region. It needs to be identified and made available where it is required. There has to be a more concentrated focus on training. Access to micro-credit must remain a key goal. Income generation is part of the Task Force’s purview. The Task Force needs to find sources of funds to promote its work. IT WAS AGREED that a practically oriented one-day Workshop will be staged in November-December 2004; to establish a Working Group to plan and stage the Workshop, with Debra Perry as the Convenor. Other members: Mosharreaf
Hossain (Bangladesh) to resuscitate the list-serve that was created but not utilised in June 2003 (Jason McKey to action); that the focus of the Workshop in the morning will be on practical issues that have worked. However, we do not want a series of self-congratulatory papers from organisations covering old ground; that a key intent of the Workshop will be to engage with Employers and Government as employers; that the Working Group will make a special attempt to create interest on the part of multi-national corporations – Bata, IBM and Coco-Cola were mentioned as exemplars;
that Kay Nagata and Debra Perry will separately and jointly explore access to funding to facilitate
the Workshop, and that a legacy of the Workshop must be robust, resilient networks that produce outcomes. There was discussion about the work of the Education Task Force and where vocational training and education fits in. Does it fall through the cracks of this Task Force and the Education Task Force? It was agreed that this is a legitimate issue and as such will be followed up by the Chairman, who will approach the Chair of the Education Task Force to discuss. It was noted, in conclusion, that there has recently been work undertaken on legislative measures and their efficacy. It was affirmed that legislation had been weak on eliminating discrimination but stronger on affirmative action. It was agreed that this is an area that will require further attention in the future. The next meeting of the Task Force expected to be in June 2004, but to be confirmed. List
of Participants
Agenda item 1 d) Women with Disabilities TWGDC7/TFEDUC/MINUTES ENGLISH ONLY UNITED
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by Ms. Supattraporn Tanatikom, DPI A/P, Thailand Agenda 1.
Opening Chairperson welcomed all participants and was so glad to have twelve other new participants. However, she expressed her regrets that only one former Task Force member attended the meeting. 2. Introduce of participant (See*List of Participants)
Chairperson asked the participants to discuss and then put in their comments to the former minutes and they agreed with unanimity not to change the last minutes. 4. Reports on current WWDs situation from participants 4.1 From the chairperson 1. Thailand National Council of Social Welfare promoted WWDs to be in the inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society according the theme of BMF. The Council released public posters featuring women with cross disability together men with disabilities and two Thai popular singers distributed to governmental organizations and agencies, NGOs, DPOs, and international organizations in the country. This national project was an early step to meet the implementation of the paradigm shift from a charity-based approach to a rights-based approach by which the society should break through attitudinal barrier towards PWDs, including WWDs who are multiply disadvantaged and marginalized but they are well able to contribute to the society. 2. The first even national workshop on WWDs Leadership Training Seminar was organized by DPI Thailand in collaboration with governmental organizations on November 13-14, 2003 in Bangkok. Twenty young women leaders with cross disability were trained at Rachanukul Institute to develop and strengthen their empowerment, and promote national self-help organizations they are represented. 4.2 From each participant Thailand Miss Phoranee Louineau, the president of WWDs attending WWDs Leadership Training Seminar mentioned the outcome of the Seminar in which the speakers pointing out to their capacity building, self-worthy, and leader skills like psychology for leader and proposal writing. She reported that WWDs realized that they need to be more confident and have learnt how to work as a group as well as to cooperate with other groups. They knew how to make a plan in details. WWDs also learnt to help others, not only ask others for help and during two-day workshop WWDs underscored their human rights in the mainstream, including the right to development. Other countries: There was not any country report from other participants.
5.1 What is the action required to achieve targets in BMF? We reminded the participants of their activities to reach three targets of BMF as in the paper disseminated before the meeting. During this discussion we clarified the first target of BMF. We did highlight the role of WWDs to some women having disabled children on how they should take action in order to WWDs issues will be recognized by Governments. Then Governments should be aware of anti-discrimination against WWDs and must have measures to safeguard the rights of WWDs. For two other targets, WWDs can see the actions guideline from the paper addressing the action required to achieve targets in BMF. They must take action seriously and actively so as for attaining BMF targets accomplishment by 2005. A participant cried out the presence of WWDs in the Task Force meeting so that the input will be directly from WWDs themselves. For this matter, we insisted that TWGDC is a Regional Coordination Mechanism under UN system. There are several TWGs on several specific issues. NGOs have joined TWGDC on voluntary-based and self-funded. This is the reason why PWDs and their organizations have rarely seen. 5.2 The inclusion of WWDs in the new international convention on the rights of WWDs All participants did not attend WWDs workshop organized by UNESCAP on August 18-22 and October 13, 2003 at UNCC in Bangkok. Therefore, we requested them to learn from the final report handed via e-mail before the meeting and informed them that the workshop emphasized on the inclusion of WWDs issues in the process of elaboration on an international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of PWDs. The outcome of the final report will be significant contribution to a New International Convention for PWDs drafted by Ad-Hoc Committee in New York. 6. Action Plan for 2004 6.1
What are the activities of Task Force members in 2004? 7. Recommendation DPI
A/P Besides, the cooperation between women in different groups such as women exper |