ANNEXES
ANNEX
I: LIST OF THE PARTICIPANTS
ANNEX
II: DRFT MINUTES OF THE TASK FORCES HELD AT THE NINTH SESSION
OF THE THEMATIC WORKING GROUP ON DISABILITY-RELATED CONCERNS(TWG-DC)
Annex
II (a): Employment and Poverty AlleviationS(TWG-DC)
Annex
II (b): Education for All Children and Youth with Disabilities
(EFA)
Annex
II (c): Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Annex
II (d): Women with Disabilities (WWD)
Annex
II (e): Self-help Organizations (SHOs)
Annex
II (f): Post Conflict Countries
Annex
II (g): Proposed International Convention on Persons with Disabilities
I. OPENING OF THE MEETING
Ms Thelma Kay, Chief, Emerging Social issues Division (ESID)
of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (UNESCAP),
opened the Ninth Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related
Concerns (TWG-DC) with a welcome statement.
Ms Thelma Kay said that a significant part of UNESCAP work in
2004 was focused on three categories: (1) monitoring of the implementation
of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive,
Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities
in Asia and the Pacific (BMF); (2) regional input to the process
towards the elaboration of an International Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons
with Disabilities, and (3) regional and inter-regional cooperation
and networking.
Ms Kay stated that the Regional Workshop on Regional Follow-up
to the Third and Fourth Sessions of 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,
held from 10 to 11 October 2004, was co-organized with the newly
establish NGO forum, the Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF),
and that the convening proved to be a timely example of regional
and sub-regional cooperation among various stakeholders, including
international non -governmental organizations(INGOs), non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), grassroots self-help groups, Governments
and others.
Furthermore, Ms Kay briefed about the Field Study cum Regional
Workshop on Poverty Alleviation among Persons with Disabilities,
held from 25 to 29 October 2004, which was also co-organized by
UNESCAP and the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF).
Ms Kay pointed out that we were now at the end of the first
two years of the Decade, entering the new stage to formulate our
own strategies towards the mid-point review and revision of the
BMF, to be held in 2007.
Ms Kay concluded her speech by reaffirming our continued commitments
for the rest of the Decade and extending her gratitude towards
the participants of the TWG-DC.
The Ninth Session of the TWG-DC was by chaired by the appointed
chairperson, Mr Graham Smith of Disability Australia, on behalf
of the APDF. It was attended by some 30 participants. The list
of participants is attached as Annex I.
II. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The TWG-DC adopted the following agenda.
A. Meetings of Task Forces:
- Employment and Poverty Alleviation
- Education of All Children and Youth with Disabilities
(EFA)
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Women with Disabilities
- Self-help Organizations of Persons with Disabilities
(SHOs)
- Post Conflict Countries
- Proposed International Convention on Persons with
Disabilities
B. Plenary session:
- Ninth session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related
Concerns (TWG-DC), plenary session
- Adoption of the Agenda
- Confirmation of Minutes of the Eighth Session of the TWG-DC,
held 15-16 June 2004
- Task Force action reports
- Evaluation of achievements and shortcomings of UNESCAP activities
by members of the TWG-DC and the proposed UNESCAP future work
towards the mid-point review (2007) of the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012)
- Reports on the UNESCAP/ APDF Workshop on Regional Follow-up
to the Third and Fourth Sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee on
a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection
and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
(11-12 October 2004, UNCC, Bangkok)
- Matters concerning the planned APDF General Assembly in 2005
and the 11th Session of the TWG-DC
- Reports on the planned activities in observance of the International
Day of Disabled Persons, to be held on 3 December 2004, UNCC,
Bangkok
- Reports of future activities (ILO, CBM/ICEVI)
- Other matters
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE
EIGHTH SESSION OF THE TWG-DC
The minutes of the Eighth Session of the TWG-DC, held in Bangkok,
from 15 to 16 June 2004, were adopted.
IV. TASK FORCE ACTION REPORTS
Brief reports were presented from the seven Task Forces listed
in the agenda. Full Task Force minutes are presented in the Annex
II.
a. Employment and Poverty Alleviation
The Task Force informed that Fiji and Sri Lanka were both in
the process of ratifying the ILO Convention 159. When and if both
countries ratify it, a total of eleven countries out of 46 signatory
states would have ratified the Convention 159 in the UNESCAP region.
This would add up to approximately 24% of the signatory states.
The Task Force confirmed that it would organize a two-day workshop
in June or July 2005, in conjunction with the 10th Session of
the TWG-DC. UNESCAP will be the Secretariat for the first day
of the workshop, and the ILO will be the Secretariat for the second
day. Thematic focus of the first day will be “poverty alleviation
and Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR),” and that of the
second day will be “a roundtable dialogue among multinationals
and stakeholders on hiring and training of persons with disabilities.
This workshop will be held prior to the 10th Session of the TWG-DC.
The exact dates of the workshop and the 10th Session will be decided
soon, but probably be either during the last week of June or the
first week of July 2005.
The part I of the workshop will be considered to be the second
phase of the UNESCAP/CDPF Field Study cum Regional Workshop on
Poverty Alleviation among Persons with Disabilities, held from
25 to 29 October 2004. Thus the agenda of the part I will be derived
from the outcome document of the Workshop in October 2004, “Joint
Statement on Poverty Alleviation Among Persons with Disabilities,”
with an emphasis on the critical role of partnerships among the
public and private sectors and civil society, and Community-Based
Rehabilitation (CBR) as a key for effective poverty alleviation
strategies.
The part II of the workshop is provisionally entitled, “Multinational
Corporation Roundtable on Hiring Persons with Disabilities,”
and is expected to be attended by a dozen of multinational corporations
from various industries such as automobile industry (Honda Co.
Ltd.), hotel service industry (Marriot Hotel), computer and information
industry (IBM, Microsoft) and others. A set of criteria for invited
corporations will be developed and sent online by Ms Debra Petty
of the ILO to the members of the preparatory committee of this
roundtable. The criteria will include the following: 1) Whether
a corporation has an operation in the Asian and Pacific region
(preferably a regional or branch office located in Bangkok, Thailand);
2) Whether a corporation has a good record of employing persons
with disabilities; 3)Whether a corporation has willingness for
promoting hiring and training of persons with disabilities in
the future.
A suggestion was made from Mr Bill Brohier to invite the Malaysian
Airline because it has a good record of hiring blind people. The
preparatory committee on this workshop was already formed and
the members were assigned to make initial contacts with the multinational
corporations of their responsibility.
Invited Governments were selected based on interests of multinational
corporations in the country. The countries included so far are
Bangladesh, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong), Fiji, India,
the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Other countries may be added at
a later stage.
b. Education for All Children and Yourh
with Disabilities(EFA)
The Task Force first extended its gratitude towards the UNESCAP
Secretariat for accommodating the need of the Task Force for a
three-hour meeting.
The Task Force informed that Ms Penny Price was elected as the
Chair of the Rehabilitation International (RI) Education Commission
and that Ms Nareewan Chintakanond was elected as the Regional
Chair of RI Asia-Pacific. Due to this new position, the regional
office of RI now is located in Thailand.
UNESCO has hosted two meetings with the theme of Inclusive education
in October 2004: The Regional Workshop on Inclusive Education
and the 6th EFA National Coordinators Meeting. Several Members
of TF EFA attended and made presentations. Very strong and close
collaborations between TF EFA and UNESCO have become one of the
most significant achievements of the TF EFA. However, the Second
Steering Committee of the Flagship on the Right to Education for
Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion, scheduled to be
held in Bangkok in October 2004 was cancelled due to lack of funds
but a mini-meeting was held with those members of the Secretariat
who were in Bangkok to attend the UNESCO meetings.
Also, the Task Force reported on the current situation of the
Regional Asian and Pacific Working Group of the Flagship. According
to the report, the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Working Group
were accepted by the Flagship Secretariat in November 2003. UNESCO
Bangkok, however, declined to accept the coordination role as
the Secretariat as specified in the original TOR. An alternative
coordination mechanism is currently being worked out with the
possibility that responsibility for coordination will be shared
by a number of agencies, which may include RI Asia and Pacific,
CBM, UNESCAP and UNESCO Bangkok.
The Task Force proposed a recommendation for TWG-DC plenary approval
on the amalgamation of the TF EFA and the Working Group. UNESCAP
said that it would provide limited logistical supports including
the provision of meeting rooms and possibly, coffee break.
c. Information and Communications Technology
(ICT)
Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi of the APCD, reported on behalf of Mr
Monthian Buntan, Chairperson of the Task Force. First, she reported
on activities undertaken by the Chairperson.
One of the recent major activities was a meeting with Mr Bill
Gates, Chairman of Microsoft (MS), as a part of a summit, “Libraries
for the Blind and Print Disabled: Moving Toward a Digital Future,”
held from 8 to 10 November 2004 at the Microsoft headquarter in
Richmond, Washington U.S.A. Mr Buntan joined the meeting with
Mr Gates along with representatives from libraries for the blind
and print disabled around the world to initiate planning on establishing
universal information accessibility through a global digital library.
Representatives from more than twenty countries, agencies working
in developing countries, the international publishing community,
The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, DAISY Consortium and international
bodies including the United Nations and the World Health Organizations
(WHO) attended the summit. At this meeting with Mr Gates, MS assured
that the Digital Right Movement (DRM) would not affect the accessibility
and the MS next Operating System would include more accessible
features.
Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) met from
6 to 9 September 2004 in Japan. SMIL synchronized different media
( audio, text, and graphic) adding more features to support the
mobile phone accessibility. Many corporations now grew interest
in this SMIL 1, and 3.0.
The United States Government announced the National Voluntary
File Format Standard based on HTML, DAISY 3, ANSI/NISO Z 39.86.
The national standard is to be adopted by the Government to support
DAISY DTD or Z39.86 document file. MS will support it in the next
version of the MS Office1.
UNESCAP Secretariat reported that a set of indicators had been
developed and proposed at the Regional Workshop on Monitoring
the implementation of the BMF held from 13 to 15 October 2004.
However, for the BMF priority area six, “Access to information
and communications, including information, communication and assistive
technologies,” it was difficult to identify usable statistical
indicators, thus policy indicators were more usable (e.g. international
ICT standard, national ICT standard). The Task Force members agreed
on this assessment.
1When this new standard is applied, users will be
able to choose an accessible format upon saving a file.
d. Women with disabilities (WWD)
The Task Force reported on a recent achievement made at the High-level
Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of
the Beijing Platform for Action, held from 7 to 10 September 2004.
Three Task Force members participated in the Meeting, read a Statement
on behalf of the Task Force at the plenary session. A part of
the Statement was reflected in an official final report, which
will be submitted to the Commission on the Status of Women to
be held March 2005, in New York. A copy of the Statement is attached
in the draft Minutes of the Task Force.
The Task Force reaffirmed the importance of lobbying to mainstream
disabled women’s issues in a gender field. Thus it agreed
on concrete action plans. Ms Nareewan will approach Thai National
Council on Women on possible joint activities. She will also ensure
the establishment of a subcommittee on women with disabilities
within the RI Asia-Pacific and mainstreaming of women with disabilities
at the regional RI conference, which is to be held from 29 November
to 2 December, 2006.
The Task Force agreed that Ms Farida Yesmin, Executive Director
of Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA),
Bangladesh, will be a new coordinator of the Task Force replacing
Ms Supattraporn Tanatikom.
e. Self-help Organizations (SHOs)
A representative from the Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability
(APCD) reported on a recent APCD training on the development of
self-help groups, held from 10 to 30 August 2004 in Thailand.
This training was targeted on only three countries (Cambodia,
Myanmar and Thailand) in order to have effective formation of
the self-help groups. Task Force supported the APCD strategy of
empowering self-help groups as a part of Community-Based Rehabilitation
(CBR) or community development, with active participation of persons
with disabilities.
The Task Force examined proposed indicators of the BMF targets
1 and 2, which were developed at the Regional Workshop on monitoring
the implementation of the BMF. It agreed that binominal indicators
for asking whether policies or mechanisms exist for supporting
self-help organizations would be merely the first step and there
should be a comprehensive set of indicators to ensure the appropriate
budget, and implementation of the policies or mechanisms.
The Task Force discussed in depth on other issues on government
support for self-help organizations and different interpretations
of “self-help,” and “decision-making by persons
with disabilities.” It agreed, however, that, in any case,
dignity of persons with disabilities should be respected, and
there should be a clear distinction between supporting persons
with disabilities for decision-making and representing them on
their behalf.
Mr Topong Khulkhanchit, a coordinator for the Task Force, reported
on Thai disabled people’s recommendations submitted to the
Governor of Bangkok at the 6th Asia-Pacific City Summit (1 December
2004). The recommendations included the adherence to the BMF,
provision of accessibility at the forth-coming political election
and ensuring non-handicapping environments.
f. Post-conflict Countries
Timor Leste
Further development of the project on CBR and income generation
of persons with disabilities in Timor Leste was reported. Thanks
to efforts by Dr. Joseph Kwok (RI Hong Kong), approximately US$
45,000 was mobilized from the Hong Kong Trust to support its second
phase in collaboration with Hong Kong China, Timor Leste, Japan
and Indonesia. As matching fund, approximately US$ 15,000 was
raised by a NGO in Japan (through Mr.Maruyama). With this initial
seed money, a NGO, Katilosa (RI Timor Leste) will inaugurate this
new phase on CBR and income generation (CBR based on social model),
in collaboration with the CBR Development and Training Center
(Dr.Handojo Tjandrakusuma) in Solo, Indonesia. The project will
be implemented by Katilosa and the Department of Labour and Solidarity
in Timor Leste.
Afghanistan
ILO reported that an ILO in-country advisor on employment and
training of persons with disabilities was recently appointed for
the post in Kabul, and he started his assignment from September
2004 for the period of 12 months. His assignment includes provision
of technical advisory services to the Government and other stakeholders,
regarding implementation of relevant projects in Afghanistan,
and formulation of a national policy on disability. According
to the report, he already initiated his work-plan and proposals,
with particular focus on (i) inclusive vocational skill training,
and (2) employment promotion of persons with disabilities, based
on an integrated approach (“mainstreaming disability”
into the existing ILO projects in the country and any other national
projects).
UNDP has initiated a new project with the total budget of $ 9.4
million for the initial period of 3 years on disability (replacing
the former UNDP/UNOPS project). The main activities of this project
include (1) raising awareness, (2) capacity building, (3) establishment
of national structure (such as NCC), (4) policy formulation, and
(5) research development.
Other conflict affected countries
The UNESCAP region’s Decades influenced other developing
countries positively. About other conflict countries, the Arab
Decade of Disabled Person (2004-2013) was officially proclaimed
at the Arab Summit held in Tunis in May 2004.
Other matters
The Task Force recognized that numbers of participants in its
meetings had continued to decrease though it was making a good
and steady progress. Thus it agreed that the future sessions of
the Task Force would be based on ad-hoc and online until further
notice. This will solve the problem of time conflicts for the
TWG-DC itself, giving more time to other bigger taskforce groups.
g. Proposed International Convention on
Persons with Disabilities
Ms Kay Nagata, a member of the Task Force, reported on the context
and content of the “Joint Statement on Proposed Structure,
Elements and Principles of a Comprehensive and Integral Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” the outcome
document of the UNESCAP/Asia and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF)
Workshop on Regional Follow-up to the Third and Fourth Sessions
of 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 (Bangkok, 10-11 October 2004).
Ms Nagata reported that the statement was officially signed and
submitted from Mr Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP to
H.E. Mr Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee, with
a copy attached to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(DESA) in New York and Sheikha (Ms) Hesa K.A. Al-Thani, Special
Rapportuer on Disability of the Commission for Social Development
Main points of the Statement are 1) reaffirming he partnership
between Governments and persons with disabilities, NGOs, 2) urging
the elaboration process be both timely and in effective manner,
3) encouraging inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects
of a process, including a Government delegation to the Ad Hoc
Committee, and 4) a special attention given to disability inclusive
international cooperation projects and evaluation.
The Task Force was with a view that, as a process of elaboration
and negotiation on the convention becomes more and more government-focused,
participation of persons with disabilities in the process, through
the national-level lobbying or becoming a part of a Government
delegation becomes critical.
Another member of the Task Force, Mr Monthian Buntan reviewed
substantive issues on a current draft. According to him, the first
reading of the draft up to the Article 15 was completed (except
Article 3 on definition) and the rest will be pursued at the forthcoming
Ad Hoc Committee held from the end of January to the beginning
of February in 2005. Many unsettled issues remain in the part
of the first reading, and they include the following: 1) international
cooperation; 2) Progressive realization of social-economic rights;
3) Article 5 (attitude should be included or not); 4)Article on
statistics/data(should be a part of monitoring article or not),
5) “non-discrimination” convention (EU strongly advocates)
versus “social development “convention; 6) A separate
article on women submitted by Republic of Korea (but EU are against
it; 7) adequacy of “supported decision-making” mainly
advocated by WNUSP and II in article 9; 8) highly sensitive “choice”
on forms of education in an article 17 .
V. EVALUTION OF ACHIVEMENTS AND SHORTCOMINGS
OF UNESCAP ACTITIVIES BY MEMBERS OF THE TWG-DC AND THE PROPOSED
UNESCAP FUTURE WORK TOWARDS THE MID-POINT REVIEW (2007) OF THE
ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS (2003-2012)
UNESCAP Secretariat summarized a review paper which compiled
replies to a questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat to the
TWG-DC members with an aim to evaluate UNESCAP activities for
the Decade and the BMF2. Details
of the evaluation will be seen at http://www.worldenable.net/bmf2004/docworking3.htm
The Secretariat reported that the findings of the evaluation
were reflected on the activities by UNESCAP from 2005 to 2006:
1) International Convention (targeted at NGOs and Governments,
2005- 2006); 2) Formulation of national policy (Governments, 2005);
3) Disability statistics (Governments, 2005); 4) CBR and poverty
alleviation (NGO, 2005); 5) Self-help groups (NGOs and Governments,
2006); 6) Mid-point review of the BMF in 2007.
The Secretariat presented the following strategies towards the
mid-point review of the BMF in 2007: 1) By the 10th Session of
the TWG-DC (June 2005), the Ad Hoc Working Group on the BMF Review
and Revision will be formed; 2) By the 11th Session of the TWG-DC,
to be held in conjunction with the General Assembly of the APDF
(November 2005 in Melbourne), the first revised text will be submitted
for discussion; 3) At the 12th Session of the TWG-DC (June 2006),
the revised text will be discussed and adopted; 5) The adopted
text will be submitted to the Expert Group Meeting(EGM), to be
held during the fourth quarter of 2006, for discussion and adoption;
6) The final draft of the EGM will be studied at the 13th Session
of the TWG-DC; 7) The final EGM draft will be submitted to the
High Level Inter-governmental Meeting on the Mid-point Review,
to be held during the fourth quarter of 2007.
The participants of the TWG-DC agreed on these proposed strategies,
and Ms Penny Price, Mr Bill Brohier, Ms Debra Perry (ILO), and
the APDF nominated themselves as the members of the Ad Hoc Working
Group. Additional members could be recruited at a later stage.
UNESCAP Secretariat pointed out that the purpose of the BMF review
and revision is not to expand and dilute the existing text but
to issue a supplementary text. The purposes for the supplementary
text are; 1) to update the text in line with current disability
regional and global context; 2) to add priority areas, targets
or strategies if there is a strong opinion to do so with a convincing
reason; 3) to merge, if necessary, priority areas or strategies
for more coordinated and effective implementation (e.g. priority
areas 1 and 2, priority areas 5 and 6); 4) to develop a set of
indicators to effectively monitor the progress of the implementation
of the BMF.
2Ms Debra Perry pointed out that “Training and
employment, including self-employment” was not included
in the original questionnaire. Thus, it was decided that it would
be included in the following third round.
VI. REPORT ON THE UNESCAP/ APDF WORKSHOP
ON REGIONAL FOLLOW-UP TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH SESSIONS OF 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 (11-12 OCTOBER 2004, UNCC, BANGKOK
)
On behalf of the APDF, Mr Graham Smith of Disability Australia,
briefed about the UNESCAP/APDF Workshop on Regional Follow-up
to the Third and Fourth Sessions of 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
(Bangkok, 10-11 October 2004) and described the outcome document
, “Joint Statement on Proposed Structure, Elements and Principles
of a Comprehensive and Integral Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities.”
VII. MATTERS CONCERNING THE PLANNED APDF
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2005 AND THE 11TH SESSION OF THE TWG-DC
On behalf of the APDF, Mr Graham Smith of Disability Australia
presented the most updated plan on the Second General Assembly
(GA) of the APDF to be held Melbourne, Australia, November 2005.
According to the presentation, the proposed APDF GA will be from
19 to 21. The Task Forces of the 11th Session of the TWG-DC will
be incorporated in the agenda of the GA. On 22 November 2005,
plenary session of the 11th Session of the TWG-DC will be held.
As indicated in the section V, participants of the TWG-DC agreed
to add a session on the BMF review and revision as a part of the
agenda, after the GA.
VIII. REPORT ON THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES
IN OBSERVANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS, TO
BE HELD ON 3 DECEMBER 2004, UNCC BANGKOK
UNESCAP Secretariat announced that a commemorative event in observance
of the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, would
be held on that day at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC).
The theme of this year was “Nothing about Us without Us,”
a motto of international disability movements to ensure participation
of, by and for persons with disabilities in all concerned aspects
of their life.
IX. REPORTS OF FUTURE ACTIVITIES (ILO,
CBM/ICEVI)
ILO
Debra Perry of the ILO reported on recent activities and planned
future activities. The focus of ILO activities was shifted from
regional networking to country-specific advisory services. Its
current target countries include China, Republic of Korea, Laos
and Mongolia. Recent publication projects were introduced, including
“CBR: A strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities,
Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities,”
jointly produced with WHO and UNESCO.
CBM/ICEVI
Mr Bill Brohier, Regional Advisor, Education of Visually Impaired
Persons, Christoffel –Blindenmission (CBM), and the Past
President of International Council for Education of People with
Visual Impairment (ICEVI), reported on the mission and activities
of both organizations.
X. OTHER MATTERS
The dates of the 10th Session of the TWG-DC and the Workshop by
The Task Force on Employment and Poverty Alleviation will be finalized
later but before 31 December 2004.
An agreement was reached as to restructuring of convening of
the Task Force meetings. Though the present seven Task Forces
will remain as they are, the following changes will be made: 1)
the Task Force on Post conflict Countries will be held on either
ad-hoc or on-line basis; 2) the Task Force on Women with Disabilities
and the Task Force on Self-help Organizations will be merged into
one meeting; 3) the Task Force on Employment and Poverty Alleviation
and the Task Force on Education for All will be held in the morning
so that the meeting participants can attend the both meetings.
0800-1030 Education of All Children and Youth with Disabilities
(EFA)
1030-1300 Employment and Poverty Alleviation
1300-1400 Lunch break
1400-1530 1) Information and Communication Technology (ICTS)
1400-1530 2) Women with Disabilities and Self-help Organizations
of Persons with Disabilities (SHOs)
1530-1630 Proposed International Convention on Persons with Disabilities
At the plenary session, the facilitator of each Task Force must
make the report as before.
ANNEX I
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
2 December 2004
UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Regional Coordination Mechanism
Ninth Session of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related
Concerns
1-2 December 2004
Bangkok
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
THAILAND
Ms Ormporn Nithayasuthi
Director, Bureau of the Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Bangkok
Mr Pat Watanasin
Social Worker, Bureau of the Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, DPW 60th Anniversary
Building, 255 Rajvithi Road Rajthewee, Bangkok
Ms Vijit Kaaewkkerwan
Bureau of the Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Bangkok
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD)
Mr Hisao Chiba,
JICA-APCD Expert on ICT
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), Bangkok
Ms Jirat Wachirasereechai
HRD Chief, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD),
Bangkok
Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi,
ICT Chief, Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD),
Bangkok
Ms Phatcharamont Phanthong,
Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), Bangkok
UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES, SPECIALIZED AGENCIES
International Labour Organization (ILO), Thailand
Ms Debra Perry,
Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation for the Asia and
Pacific Region, EASMAT, Bangkok
Ms Anne Holopainen, EASMAT, Bangkok
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), Thailand
Mr Jon F. Kapp, Assessment, Information Systems, Monitoring and
Statistics Unit (AIMS), Bangkok
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITLES
Association for Career Advancement of the Blind, Thailand
Ms Sawart Pramoonsilp
Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM/SEAPRO) and International Council
for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), Malaysia
Mr William G. Brohier,
Regional Adviser, Education of Visually Impaired Persons, CBM
Christoffel Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission E.V., &
Past President, International Council for Education of People
with Visual Impairment
Disability Australia, Australia Mr Graham Smith, Secretary
Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA), Bangladesh
Ms Farida Yesmin, Executive Director
Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI), Thailand
Mr Topong Kulkhanchit, Regional Development Officer
Ms Thitima Ratanachaiyaphan
Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind, Thailand
Mr Pecharat Techavachara, President
Hilton/Perkins Program, Thailand Mr Kirk Horton
National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT), Thailand
Ms Panomwan Boontem, President
Ms Nongluk Sengchan
Ms Puangpet Limpisuree, Sign Language Interpreter
Mr Pongpun Vorapipatkumtorn
Parents’ Association of the Intellectually Impaired, Thailand
Ms Phoranee Louineau, President
Rehabilitation International, Regional Committee for Asia and
the Pacific (RI)
Ms Nareewan Chintakanond, Associate Professor
Ms Penelope Price, Chair RI Education Commission
Thai Association of the Blind (TAB), Thailand
Mr Monthian Buntan, President
Yooralla Society of Victoria, Australia
Mr Bryan Thomas Woodford, Immediate Past President, ACROD Ltd.,
VSO Thailand, Thailand Ms Kanikar Sittisak, Programme Support
Officer
Ms Umarat Decharin
Ms Treeyarak Meebutpakdee
SECRETARIAT
Mr Kim Hak-Su Executive Secretary
Ms Keiko Okaido
Deputy Executive Secretary
Mr Daewan Choi Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary and
Secretary of the Commission
______________
Ms Thelma Kay Director,
Emerging Social Issues Division
Mr Bhakta Gubhaju Officer-in-Charge,
Population and Social Integration Section, Emerging Social Issues
Division
Ms Kay Nagata
Social Affairs Officer,
Population and Social Integration Section, Emerging Social Issues
Division
Ms Aiko Akiyama
Project Expert on Disability,
Population and Social Integration Section, Emerging Social Issues
Division
______________
Mr Peter Van Laere Chief, Administrative Services Division
Mr Anmin Yin Officer-in-Charge, a.i., of the Conference Services
Section, Administrative Services Division
______________
Mr David Lazarus Chief, United Nations Information Services
______________
ANNEX II
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE TASK
FORCES HELD AT THE EIGHTH SESSION OF THE THEMATIC WORKING GROUP
ON DISABILITY-RELATED CONCERNS (TWG-DC)
Annex II (a)
Employment and Poverty Alleviation Task
Force
1. Ms Debra Perry, ILO, chaired the meeting and welcomed participants.
Each participant introduced him-or herself. Ten individuals representing
UN agencies and DPOs participated in the meeting. (See appendix
1 for list of all attendees.) The chairperson praised particularly
the presence of the DPOs. Ms Anne Holopainen took minutes.
2. The Chairman presented the following
agenda:
- Welcome and self-introductions
- Adoption of the agenda
- Review and adoption of the minutes
- Progress reports from task force members on activities related
to employment and training and poverty alleviation targets,
actions, etc.
- Action items from prior meetings
a. List-serve
b. Linkage to education task force
- Poverty Alleviation and Multinational Roundtable Meeting---June
a. Review of progress, funding, integration of two meetings,
etc.
b. Date and logistics
c. Review of poverty alleviation day
d. Review of working paper for multinational roundtable day
e. Review of paper for multinationals
f. Agenda ideas for Roundtable
g. Criteria for selecting multinationals
h. Criteria for selecting participants
i. Next steps
- Items from prior meetings
a. Employer awards
b. Other
- New business
3. The minutes from the Employment and Poverty Alleviation Task
Force meeting held on 15th June 2004 were reviewed. The Chairperson
noted that she will go back to the minutes and make some corrections.
4. Debra briefed the task force members on the progress related
to employment and training and poverty alleviation targets:
- Ratification of the ILO Convention 159 on Vocational
Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons: Fiji is ratifying
the convention and Sri Lanka has requested the ILO collaboration
with holding a national meeting to promote the process and decent
work policies for people with disabilities.
- New publications: The ILO has released a new publication
on legislation guidelines, “Achieving Equal Employment
Opportunities for People with Disabilities through Legislation:
Guidelines’. A leaflet concentrating on CBR, called “CBR:
A Strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization of Opportunities,
Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities’
will also be published soon.
- The Washington Group, funded by World Bank, is a
group of experts that is developing methods for collecting disability
statistics worldwide. It recently met in Bangkok. ESCAP’s
statistician is actively involved with the group as is an ILO
expert in Geneva, who has already conducted some preliminary
research. He will develop guidelines that will contribute to
the collection of labour market information of people with disabilities
in line with the guidance of the Washington Group.
- ILO Disability Advisor in Afghanistan: A new disability
specialist has started his work in Afghanistan. The Advisor
has already made an impact on disability issues. He will assist
the UNDP funded project to advise on disability issues and has
worked with the government to second two internal staff to work
on disability issues; he has secured funding for two additional
staff, all who will work toward inclusion and programmes to
address the needs of disabled persons.
- Country level activities: Six officials from Laos
comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare, Lao Disabled People’s Association, Lao
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Lao Federation
of Trade Union, are currently taking part in a study to Vietnam
and Cambodia. The tour is aimed to have impact on developing
the policies and the multisectoral coordinative body in disability
matters in Laos.
- Korean government funds for prospective study tour---fostering
interregional cooperation: Participants from Vietnam, China,
Thailand and Mongolia will take part in a study tour to South
Korea. She noted that based on her recent mission to the Republic
of Korea that she learned that South Korea is placing greater
emphasis on people with severe disabilities as well as on mainstreaming.
- Brian Woodford shared his experiences from a meeting
held in Hong Kong in October as South Korea had fully accessible
IT tools for disabled persons to access services. Kay Nagata
noted that Korea is rated second in the application of the IT
in the world.
- Regarding other ILO activities, Debra noted that
awareness raising for employers has been done and many documents
have been translated for governments and social partners in
the region.
- Debra noted that the Pacific Forum plans to sponsor
a meeting on disability in Fiji in September 2005. The ILO plans
to participate.
5. Brian Woodford commented that Workability International is
growing in organizational size and influence and suggested greater
linkage between employments focused groups and Workability, which
just had its congress in Christchurch, New Zealand. He pointed
out that well known organizations such as Reemploy and Shaw Trust
are active members.
6. Issues related to communication were raised. It was acknowledged
that task force members and other parties should be more aware
of the actions of each other and ways to facilitate this were
discussed. Video conference was agreed to be cost-effective means
of organizing a meeting. It was noted by Kay Nagata that this
issue would be raised at other points during the TWG meeting.
7. Kay Nagata briefed the participants on the three meetings
in October. First was the APDF forum on NGOs, second the Regional
Workshop on Monitoring the Implementation of the BMF and third
the joint ESCAP and CDPF meeting in China on poverty alleviation
which included site visits to several impressive programmes in
China. Kay shared an excellent video which demonstrated some of
the rural based poverty alleviation activities that the Chinese
Government has sponsored for people with disabilities.
8. Action items from the prior meetings very briefly referred
to due to absence of the persons responsible of the matters.
- Debra urged the task force members to actively use
the email and particularly the list-serve when communicating
on the task force matters, especially the upcoming multinational
meeting.
- The linkage to the education task force was duly
noted as well and that Mr. Jason Mc. Kay has agreed to be the
link. However, Jason was unable to attend the TWG due to injury.
9. Poverty Alleviation and Multinational Roundtable Meeting were
discussed. The following are some of the main points:
- The structure and dates for the meetings: Workshop on Poverty
Alleviation will be held on the first day, the Multinational
Roundtable Meeting on the second day, followed by two days of
the 10th session of TWG-DC ESCAP meetings. Two alternative dates
were considered: the week starting on 20th June 2005 or the
week starting on 4 July 2005. It was agrees that everyone would
check their respective commitments and Kay would consult with
CDPF since the Poverty Alleviation meeting is sponsored by them.
- Participants: Kay Nagata noted that the ESCAP invites representatives
from China, Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines
and Fiji. The participants will be mainly from the government.
Ms. Nagata though noted that it will be good to introduce them
to the multinational representatives. The ILO will also fund
participants from the countries where the multinationals operate
(see next paragraph), as the budget allows
- Funding: Besides funding the participants from the seven
countries, ESCAP will provide space and technical equipment
for the entire two-day meeting. The ILO will cover the costs
of lunch, refreshments, and documentation for the multinational
day and with the remaining funds will cover the costs of participants
from countries of particular interest to the multinationals.
- The purpose of the meeting: The overall aim is to foster
dialogue and promote partnership between the companies and respective
employment and training organizations in specific countries
in the region with the purpose of fostering hiring disabled
workers and human resource development of people with disabilities.
(See appendix 2 for the Draft Working Paper).
- Prerequisites for the selection of the companies: The criteria
for targeting multinational companies was discussed with the
following agreed upon: multinationals have interest in several
countries in the region, task force members may have some contact
with the company already, the companies have a reputation as
good employers and perhaps some indication of interest in hiring
workers with disabilities. The countries and location of factories
has to be taken into consideration as well. Those with regional
headquarters in Bangkok might be more interested in participating
and would be easier to ensure active follow-up. The issue of
duplication and involvement of competing companies was also
discussed. It was agreed that companies from the same sectors
can be included---such as two car or computer companies, for
example in order to get coverage from companies originating
from various continents.
- The Multinational Companies to be researched: The group generated
a list of 12 multinationals to target, with a goal of getting
6 to 8 to commit to participating. Task force members volunteered
to conduct initial research on each company. The list of companies
and those who will research them is in Appendix 3.
- The steps and tentative timetable for the action: The initial
research will involve identifying the company’s social
responsibility policies, community development initiatives and
more specifically, to explore which companies have policies
for disabled employees and/or special products and services
for disabled persons. The first stage will be conducted on the
basis of Internet research, by using contacts and/or by calling
to the company if it doesn’t cause undue expense. The
results of the research will be shared with the group during
mid-February. Since most of the participants are in Bangkok,
this may even be done in person. The research items for the
first step of the process are presented in the Appendix 4. Following
the February meeting where the decisions on the suitable and
willing companies are made, further contacts will be completed
by 15th March. Subsequent surveys on the interests and needs
of the multinationals will be conducted. The specific companies
and all participants to meet their interests and needs will
be identified by the beginning of May.
- Other issues that came up with respect to the process: Brian
Woodford pointed out that it makes a difference budget wise
whether the meeting is held in June or July. He also noted that
it should be noted to the companies that it’s a matter
a business and not charity when contacting the companies. The
ILO will seek the participation of its PR department in this
regard. Debra also reminded the group about the Unlocking Potential
booklet that had been distributed at prior meetings, which outlines
the business case for hiring, which should form the basis of
this meeting. The companies are expected to cover their expenses
for meeting participation.
10. Items from prior meetings were briefly noted due to the shortage
of time.
- The issue of employers’ awards can be taken up after
the poverty alleviation/multinational meeting.
- Monthien Buntan noted that efforts to ban massage businesses
operated by the blind and efforts to prevent blind individuals
from become masseuses was blocked by the disability movement
in Thailand and the group applauded this success.
Appendix 1
Multinational Corporation
Roundtable on Disability and Employment
Draft Working Paper
Background
The Employment and Poverty Alleviation Task Force of the Thematic
Working Group on Disability Related Concerns has decided to hold
a multinational roundtable to discuss how multinational companies
can work with NGOs, governments and international organization
to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities
and thereby decrease their poverty. This approach is fully consistent
with the ILO Decent Work Agenda and its focus in the region to
assist people with disability work out of poverty. The meeting
will be funded by the ILO and ESCAP. It is envisioned to be a
relatively small working meeting, with about six multinational
companies represented and about 40 participants.
Date and Venue
The date of meeting will be June 2005. It will be held after the
TWG meeting and will form one day of the ESCAP Poverty Alleviation
meeting to allow for cost sharing between ESCAP and ILO and to
meet mutual objectives. It is suggested that if the budget allows
a half-day working meeting follows the multinational meeting for
participants to formulate a specific action plan for follow-up
on the meeting findings and recommendations.
Objectives
The overall objective of the meeting is to foster a dialogue between
multinationals and disability stakeholders to explore how multinationals
can contribute to the implementation of the training and employment
of people with disabilities and also benefit in terms of workforce
diversity and the business case for hiring disabled workers.
The specific objectives of the proposed meeting and related planning
and follow-up activities are to:
- Determine ways that multinationals can contribute to the
spirit, targets and actions of the BMF, specifically those that
related to training and employment as well as to implement the
ILO Code of Practice;
- Develop positive attitudes and interest among multinationals
about the hiring and human resource development of disabled
workers;
- Develop greater skills and awareness among service providers
about how to approach multinationals at country-level;
- Share examples of good practice regarding current activities
between multinationals and service providers;
- Create initial linkages between multinationals and service
providers at the country level;
- Create a follow-up plan of action for the TWG Task Force
on Employment and Poverty Alleviation with regard to follow-up
with multinational companies, both those that participated and
other multinationals; and
- Make recommendations for future activities among all key
stakeholders.
Expected Outputs
Specific
At the end of the meeting and the follow-up activities it is expected
that there will be the following
outputs:
- Case studies and examples of good practice
- Meeting proceedings that capture recommendations and an action
plan
- Linkages between certain multinationals and country-level
service providers
- Identified strategies about how to work how multinationals
and other stakeholders can work together to achieve mutual goals
General
The TWG task force will have a plan of action for follow-up with
each multinational present as well as how to expand the network
to others in the region. It is also expected that the multinational
representatives will each make on commitment to follow-up on the
issues addressed at the meeting and will be more aware of the
BMF, ILO Code of Practice and the business case for hiring workers
with disabilities. All participants will be more aware of multinational
corporation activities related to the employment and/or poverty
alleviation of people with disabilities.
Desired Impact
It is hoped that the meeting will be both the beginning of a dialogue
between international organizations, NGOs and Government service
providers as well as yield some specific linkages that have direct
and practical ramifications for the employment and alleviation
of poverty for people with disabilities at country level. Further,
it is hoped that the meeting will be the beginning of a regional
network among multinationals that might later include employers’
organizations and others interested in collaboration on issues
related to disability in the workplace.
Work Plan
Main Task Steps
| 1. Formation of task force subcommittee
on multinationals and complete research required prior to
inviting participants |
- Organize task force (done)
- Establish date and objectives of meeting (done)
- Develop a criteria for approaching multinationals
- Research possible multinationals for participation
in the meeting
- Survey targeted multinationals regarding interest in
participating in the meeting and about their regional
needs with regard to their business activities/human resource
needs, especially countries where they would be most interested
in hiring
- Survey/match their needs and interest to task force
members to ensure that appropriate representatives are
at the meeting
- Finalize the list of participants who should be present
at the meeting
|
| 2. Plan for and hold roundtable meeting inclusive
of task force members, other participants and multinational
companies 7.2 |
- Finalize budget
- Finalize agenda, speakers and activities
- Determine financial need of proposed participants and
criteria for providing stipends
- Finalize logistics (location, time, etc.)
- Send out invitations with appropriate background information
- Confirm participants who will attend
- Hold meeting
|
| 3. Establish linkages and conduct follow-up
activities |
- Conduct research as noted in 1 and 2
- Design the meeting agenda and activities in 2 to facilitate
linkage development
- Record intentions in action plans, meeting proceedings
etc.
- Provide follow-up and technical assistance to ensure
the success of linkages established
- Monitor activities of the linkages and the plan of
action
|
| 4. Finalize meeting proceedings |
- Design meeting activities to facilitate the development
of action plans and recommendations
- Identify a recorder and photographer
- Record meeting proceedings, recommendations and action
plans
- Prepare draft document to include action plans and
recommendations meeting proceedings
- Circulate document among task force members
- Finalize and post on ILO and ESCAP web sites and circulate
to all members
|
Inputs
Financial Inputs
Workshop
- Cost of meeting hall
- Refreshments and lunch
- Equipment
Stipends for travel and DSA of participants
- Stipends for selected participants from developing countries
who are unable to shoulder costs of meeting (selected according
to targeted interest of multinationals invited and financial
need of service provider in targeted country)
It is anticipated that corporations will cover their own costs
for participation.
Human Resource Inputs
ILO Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation
ILO Associate Expert
ESCAP Disability Specialists
TWG Task force members---Working Group on the Multinational Roundtable
Target Group
- Multinational corporations (six are anticipated for participation
in the meeting) who have an interest in meeting their human
resource needs by hiring people with disabilities or their corporate
responsibility needs by taking other actions that will contribute
to the poverty alleviation and promote decent work among people
with disabilities.
- Service providers (NGOs, Government, trade union or international
organizations) in the region, especially those who are TWG and
Employment and Poverty Alleviation subcommittee members and/or
who represent countries of specific interest to the invited
multinationals
- People with disabilities
Appendix 2
Companies to be researched (and further
contacted) for the
Multinational Roundtable Meeting in 2005
COMPANY |
PERSON RESPONSIBLE
TO RESEARCH AND CONTACT |
| IBM (already contacted) |
Debra Perry |
| Toyota |
Pecharat Techavachara |
| Bata Shoes |
Jason Mc Kay |
| Nike |
Debra Perry/Anne Holopainen |
| Honda |
Kay Nagata |
| HSBC |
Debra Perry |
| IKEA |
Debra Perry/Anne Holopainen |
| KPMG and other financial type institutions |
Brian Woodford |
| Microsoft |
Monthien Buntan |
| Motorola |
Debra Perry |
| Nokia |
Anne Holopainen |
| Marriott (already committed to participating) |
Debra Perry |
Appendix 3
Research Items for Multinational
Companies
Instructions: Please use the following data points to collect
information about the multinational company you are researching.
Please use the Internet to answer these questions, and/or call
the company if you can do so without incurring undue expense.
If you have information from other sources, please identify the
source of information. This information will be shared with the
Multinational Roundtable Meeting Working Group no later than mid-February.
Name of company:
Web site address:
Headquarters location:
Regional office address:
Regional contacts: (list all that apply…for human resource,
community services, corporate social responsibility---give name,
address, phone/email)
Describe the nature of the business and possible employment opportunities:
Describe policy related to employment and people with disabilities:
Describe any data or information available regarding actual hiring
practices:
Describe any information available about partnerships or work
on disability issues, including names and if possible, contact
information of partners:
Describe the company’s social responsibility statement
or any other related policies or programmes:
Describe any company awareness of people with disabilities as
a customer:
Describe the locations of operations in the region (this might
include the countries where they operate, have offices/factories
or in which they have work with subcontracting companies):
If you or anyone in the TWG/disability network has any connections
to this company, please describe:
Other comments/information of relevance:
Person preparing this report:
Attendance Sheet
Employment and Poverty Alleviation Task
Force
No. |
Name |
Organization |
Email address |
| 1 |
Brian Woodford |
ACROD and YOORALLA Society of Victoria |
ceo@yooralla.com.au |
| 2 |
Pecharat Techavachara |
Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind (FEPB) |
fepb@internetksc.th.com |
| 3 |
Panomwan Boontem |
National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT) |
nadtthai@mweb.co.th |
| 4 |
Puangpet Limpisuree |
National Association of the Deaf in Thailand (NADT) |
|
| 5 |
Monthian Buntan |
Thai Association of the Blind (TAB) |
mbuntan@tab.or.th |
| 6 |
Panjarat Chantria |
Disabled Peoples’ International Thailand (DPI) |
|
| 7 |
Kay Nagata |
ESCAP |
nagata@un.org |
| 8 |
Aiko Akiyama |
ESCAP |
akiyama@un.org |
| 9 |
Debra Perry |
ILO |
perry@ilo.org |
| 10 |
Anne Holopainen |
ILO |
holopainen@ilo.org |
| 11 |
Ms Sawart Pramoonsilp |
The Association for Career Advancement of the Blind |
|
Annex II (b)
Education for All Children
and Youth with Disabilities (EFA)
1. Opening of the meeting
The eighth session of the Task Force on Education for all Children
and Youth with Disabilities was chaired by Mr Bill Brohier. The
session was attended by 15 members. The meeting was delighted
to extend a special welcome to Khun Nareewan Chinatakanond, recently
elected Regional Chair of RI Asia-Pacific. We very much appreciated
the fact that she found the time to attend our meeting. We also
welcomed a number of other participants who attended for the first
time. These included Khun Pat from the Bureau of Empowerment for
Persons with Disabilities, and Khun Tree and Khun Decharin who
were representing VSO, Thailand. We very much hope that they will
continue to attend our meetings. We were very pleased also to
welcome Jon Kapp once again from UNESCO.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
The following agenda was adopted
- Welcome and self introductions
- Adoption of the Agenda
- Confirmation of the Minutes of the seventh session of TF
EFA held on 15 June 2004.
- Report of TF EFA activities
- Report on UNESCO initiatives by Jon Kapp, 'Assistant Programme
Manager', AIMS Unit, UNESCO.
- Flagship for Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion
Formation of the Asia/Pacific Regional Flagship Working Group
a) Clarification of management and integration with TF EFA
b) Call for recommendations on expanded membership
c) TOR updated
- Report of the 4th Ad Hoc Meeting to draft text for an international
convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of
persons with disabilities, held in New York, 24 May –
8 June 2004. IDA draft text for Article 17. 5th Ad Hoc Meeting:
24 January – 4 February 2005
- Reports from TF EFA members
a) Graham Smith: Disability Standards
- Other matters
3. Report of TF EFA activities
Penny Price attended the RI Congress held in Oslo in June 2004.
She was elected Chair of the RI Education Commission and presented
a paper on the Right to Education for All Children with disabilities:
From Myth to reality. Associate Professor Khun Nareewan Chintakanond
was elected Regional Chair of RI Asia-Pacific, so the regional
office of RI now resides in Thailand. We were very happy to have
Khun Nareewan attend our TF EFA meeting yesterday for the first
time.
A presentation was made on behalf of the TF EFA on the positive
implications of Multi-Grade Teaching (MGT) for children with disabilities
at a university Conference held in Bangkok in September 2004.
Bill Brohier made a presentation emphasizing the critical importance
of Early Intervention at a national Conference held in Malaysia
in September 2004.
Bill Brohier attended meetings of ICEVI and CBM in Costa Rica
in October 2004 and gave the Closing Address at the ICEVI Sub-regional
Conference for Central America on “A United Region for Educational
Integration of Persons with Visual Impairment. The theme given
to him was: Human Rights – An Utopia?
Penny, in her capacity as Chair of the RI Education Commission,
has been involved in working with IDA to draft Article 17 for
the UN Convention. Article 17 on education was not discussed at
the 4th Ad Hoc meeting but it will be at the 5th session which
will be held in January 2005.
A global Meeting on disability has just been held by the World
Bank in Washington in November 2004. Olof Sandkull has been attending
from UNESCO Bangkok and TF EFA. A symposium was scheduled on Inclusive
Education
4. Report by Jon Kapp, AIMS Unit on UNESCO
activities
Jon Kapp gave a comprehensive report on the 2 meetings with the
theme of Inclusive Education which UNESCO hosted in Bangkok in
October 2004: The Regional Workshop on Inclusive Education and
the 6th EFA National Coordinators Meeting. Several members of
TF EFA attended and made presentations. Very strong and close
collaboration between TF EFA and UNESCO has become one of the
most significant achievements of the TF EFA
Jon also informed the group that the UNESCO AIMS Unit has started
a project on identifying successful strategies for including children
with disabilities in school systems and will develop Guidelines
to assist Governments and others to develop inclusive education
systems. Penny Price is working on this project with Ko-Chih Tung
and Jon Kapp. Thailand is one of six countries selected for a
case study and extensive visits have been made to the Khon Kaen
and Roi-Et area. The project has been extensively assisted by
members of TF EFA and would like to thank Khun Prayat and Kirk
Horton in particular.
Jon disseminated electronic copies of the recently completed
UNESCO Toolkit for Creating Inclusive Learning-Friendly Environments:
embracing Diversity. If anyone would like to obtain this resource
please contact Jon. E-mail: j.kapp@8unescobkk.org.
He reported too on the launch of the EFA Monitoring Report for
2004, “The Leap to Equality”, which took place in
Bangkok on 8th November 2004. The group was concerned at the continuing
failure of the EFA reports to provide any detailed information
on the status of education for persons with disabilities. The
process for preparing the reports is complex and does not allow
for easy input. It is hoped that this will change during the decade.
5. Flagship on the Rights to Education for Persons with
Disabilities: Towards Inclusion. Asia/Pacific Regional Working
Group
An extensive discussion was held on the progress of the Flagship
on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards
Inclusion. The second Steering Committee meeting of the Flagship
on the Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards
Inclusion, scheduled to be held in Bangkok in October 2004, was
cancelled for lack of funds but a mini-meeting was held with those
members the Secretariat who were in Bangkok to attend the UNESCO
meetings. Some achievements of the Flagship made so far include:
- Completion of an issues paper by John Lawrence with directions
for Flagship action planning. An action plan is currently in
the process of being developed.
- A Flagship Working Group on Disability Statistics and Indicators
has been formed and held its first meeting in Paris in October
2004. Ko-Chih Tung of the AIMS Unit, UNESCOBKK is a member of
this international working group
- There was agreement in principle to form a Working Group
on capacity building and teacher training
- Regional Asian and Pacific Working Group of the Flagship.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for an Asian and Pacific Working
Group of the Flagship were accepted by the Flagship Secretariat
in November 2003. UNESCO Bangkok has however declined to accept
the coordination role as specified in the original TOR. An alternative
coordination mechanism is currently being worked out with the
possibility that responsibility for coordination will be undertaken
jointly by a number of agencies, which may include RI Asia Pacific,
CBM, UNESCAP and UNESCO Bangkok. Other agencies have offered their
services. It is hoped that this process will be finalized by the
first meeting of TWGDC in 2005. At this time a recommendation
will be put to TWGDC to approve the amalgamation of the TF EFA
with the Asian and Pacific Working Group of the Flagship on the
Right to Education for Persons with Disabilities: Towards Inclusion.
TF EFA has in fact being carrying out the role of the envisaged
regional Flagship Working Group since its inception in 2001. Recognition
of its work at international level led to the proposal to form
the Flagship Working Group with TF EFA as its basis in this region.
The Asia Pacific region is the only region so far to form a Regional
Working Group of the Flagship.
Ensuring the right to access education for every child and young
person in this region is the only means of making sure that the
next generation of young people with disabilities is not once
again over-represented in statistics on persons living in poverty,
and deprived of the opportunities which allow all people to fulfill
their own personal potential as well as participating fully in,
and contributing to, the societies in which they live. This is
one of the goals of the BMF, and was the reason for the establishment
of TF EFA in 2001. What we are seeking is to extend and strengthen
this work with the amalgamation of TF EFA and the regional Flagship
Working Group. In order to achieve this we need commitment from
agencies willing to form a partnership to share the work that
is needed to make this a reality.
6. Report of the 4th Ad Hoc Meeting and progress towards
an international Convention for Persons with Disabilities.
It was noted that at the 4th Ad Hoc Meeting Article 17, addressing
education, was not discussed. Monthian provided some insights
into aspects of the article that may be controversial during the
5th Ad Hoc Meeting which is scheduled to be held in New York,
24 January 2005.
7. Reports from TF EFA members
Members shared information on a number of topics and there was
an extended discussion on the progress being made toward inclusive
education since the 1999 Education Act was passed in Thailand.
It was recognized that the new system and procedures will take
time to be fully effective.
The rights and empowerment of parents, and the problems and challenges
they face in both caring for their disabled children and ensuring
that they achieve their right to a good education was raised as
a very important issue. It was noted that parents organizations
face particular difficulties when advocating for their children
and often do not receive the same attention or response that is
afforded to organizations of persons with disabilities. As children
with disabilities are unable to advocate for themselves it is
imperative that the voice of parents is treated with the respect
it deserves and that the issue of access to quality education
is one of the priority issues on the agenda of all disability
advocacy groups.
Informative presentations were made on aspects of the national
situation for education in Bangladesh and Japan. Graham also reported
on the 9-year process that has led to the development of Education
Standards which are in the process of being legislated in Australia
to prevent discriminatio0n against children and youth with disabilities
in the education system. The importance of early intervention,
teacher training, and transition to employment and access for
students with disabilities to tertiary education was addressed.
Aiko presented the indicators for education that had been developed
at the UNESCAP Conference on the targets and indicators for the
BMF, at the meeting held in Bangkok in October 2004. She also
informed the group that she would be attending an International
Conference on Early Intervention in Chennai, organized by an organization
which focuses on inclusive community-based service for children
with intellectual disabilities, 0-6 year old.
8. Other matters
Graham reported that the 2nd General Assembly and 4 day
Conference of APDF will be held in Melbourne from 19-22 November
2005. A meeting of TWGDC may be held in conjunction with this
Conference.
Kirk Horton provided advance notice of the ICEVI East Asia Regional
Conference which will be held in Jomtien, Thailand, February 20-23
2005.
List of the Participants
TWGDC8 15-16 June 2004 |
TF EFA 15 June 2004 |
Participant list |
| Co-Coordinators |
|
|
| Penny Price |
Penelopej2000@yahoo.com |
RI |
| Bill Brohier (absent 15.6.04) |
CBM-SEAPRO & ICEVI |
brohier@pc.jaring.my |
| Name |
Organization |
E-mail |
| Australia |
|
|
| Graham Smith |
APDF |
grasm@connexus.net.au |
| Bangladesh |
|
|
| Farida Yesmin |
DRRA |
sila@agni.com |
| Thailand |
|
|
| Poranee Louineau |
Parents’ Association, Ment. Imp. |
phoraneelouineau@yahoo.com |
| Shushira Chonhenchol |
Handicap International |
bkkdd@thailand-hi.org |
| Pat Watanasin |
Bureau for the Empowerment of PWD |
patwatanasin@yahoo.com |
| Nareewan Chintakanond |
RI AP, Regional Chair |
nareewan@ncswt.ot.th |
| Kirk Horton |
Hilton/Perkins Programme |
panna@mozart.inet.co.th |
| Prayat Punongong |
DPI |
kkab@loxinfo.co.th |
| Treeyarak Meebutpablee |
VSO Thailand |
treeyarak@inet.co.th |
| Monthian Buntan |
|
mbuntan@tab.or.th |
| Decharin Umarat |
VSO Thailand |
Tel: 02-6404076 |
| UNESCO |
|
|
| Jon Kapp |
UNESCO |
j.kapp@unescobkk.org |
| UNESCAP |
|
|
| Aiko Akiyama |
ESID |
akiyama@un.org |
Annex II (c)
Information and Communications
Technology
(REPORT TO BE INSERTED!)
List of the Participants
No. |
Name |
Organization |
Email address |
| 1 |
Mr Pongpun Vorapipatkuntorn |
NADT |
nadtthai@mweb.co.th |
| 2 |
Ms Jirat Wachirasereechai |
APCD |
info@apcdproject.org |
| 3 |
Ms Phatcharamont Phanthong |
APCD |
phatcharamont@apcdproject.org |
| 4 |
Ms Lasapan Toomsawasdi |
APCD |
lasapan@apcdproject.org |
| 5 |
Mr Hisao Chiba |
APCD |
chiba@apcdproject.org |
| 6 |
Mr Pat Watanasin |
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security |
patwatanasin@yahoo.com |
| 7 |
Mr Pecharat |
Techavachara FEPB |
fepb@internetksc.th.com |
| 8 |
Mr Bryan Woodford |
Yooralla Society of Victoria |
ceo@yooralla.com.au |
| 9 |
Ms Kay Nagata |
UNESCAP |
nagata@un.org |
| 10 |
Mr Monthian Buntan |
TAB |
mbuntan@tab.or.th |
Annex
II (d)
Women with disabilities
(WWD)
The Task Force on Women with Disabilities was held on 1 December
2004, attended by 8 participants, and chaired by Aiko Akiyama.
A provisional list of participants is attached.
1. The Chairperson presented the provisional agenda as
follows:
- Opening
- Introduction of participants
- Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting
- Reports on relevant activities to date
4.1 From the chairperson:
1) A report on Asia-Pacific NGO Forum 2004 on Beijing+10
2) A report of the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review
Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and
its Regional and Global Outcomes.
3) A report on WWD Asia-Pacific Network
4.2 From participants:
1) An e-report from Australia
2) An e-report from India on "Equity of Women with Disabilities
in India"
3) Reports from other participants
- Action plans for year 2005 and others
- Other matters:
- Selection of new task force coordinator on WWD
- Closing
The participants approved this agenda.
2. The Chairperson reported on the Asia-Pacific NGO Forum
2004 on Beijing+10, held at Mahidol University, Bangkok,
30 June -3 July 2004. Task Force members participated and a submitted
a summary statement of issues of women with disabilities and a
set of recommendations. The participants of the Task Force pointed
out that follow up action to make and to implement its action
plan would be important.
3. The Chairperson reported on the achievement
made at the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional
Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, held Bangkok,
7-9 September 2004. The immediate objectives were to raise awareness
on issues on disabled women amongst policy-makers in gender development
field and to reflect their concerns in an expected outcome document,
which in turn, was expected to be brought up in a discussion table
at the Commission on the Status of Women, to be held in New York
in March 2005. The Meeting was attended by more than 400 policy
makers and experts from 44 member states in the Asian and Pacific
region.
Three representatives from the Task Force (blind, physically
disabled, non-disabled women) participated in, read the Statement
(which was formulated by the Task Force)), and distributed a Statement
by women with disabilities in the Pacific region at the Meeting
(please see the attached statement). In the outcome report, a
specific paragraph was inserted on women with disabilities. It
described deprivation of self-esteem faced by women with disabilities
from early childhood and access to health services, and CEDAW
disability-specific General Recommendations #18 and #24. This
insertion was made possible thanks to lobbying done by the Task
Force participants to the Government participants of Thailand
and Pakistan.
The Task Force agreed that the through this occasion, members
have done a reasonably good job; but felt a need for more participation
of WWD or PWD in this type of meeting or any type of disability
non-specific meeting held at UN and elsewhere. WWD issues are
generally unrecognized for various reasons. The Task Force reaffirmed
the importance of taking actions to influence gender policy makers,
and agreed upon the following action plans;
- Ms Nareewan, newly elected Chair of RI in the AP region,
will approach Thai National Council on Women on the TF activities
and discusses possible joint activities such as for the International
Women’s Day (8March);
- Ms Farida continues to work with women’s community
in Bangladesh and sends a new movie on WWD to the TF for future
activities;
- Ms Nareewan will ensure sustainable development of a subcommittee
on WWD within the structure of RI Asia and the Pacific, and
will include a thematic session on WWD at the RI Asia and Pacific
regional conference (to be held 29 November to 2 December 2006).
4. The Task Force members discussed other advocacy venues
(i.e., sending a questionnaire to candidates prior to
Thai election on WWD issues).
5. Participation in online chat at a DPI site
and a Women Watch site was encouraged. The addresses are as follows:
http://www.dpi.org/en/resources/topics/women/11-18-04_beijing.htm,
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/forums/review/
6. The Task Force members raise the following issues
as important agenda for future activities:
- Actions have to be taken on concerns and support needs of
mothers (fathers) of disabled family members;
- Dissemination of information on online basis is really important.
Sending information on this TF should be sent to a site such
as Women Watch.
- Women in rural areas lack access to this kind of information.
- Pensions for (WWD) are used by other family members other
than herself.
7. The Task Force members agreed that Ms Farida
Yesmin, Executive Director, Disabled Rehabilitation & Research
Association (DRRA), Bangladesh, will be a new coordinator of the
TF on a condition that she comes once a year.
8. The meeting was adjourned.
Appendix 1
Statement for High-level
Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of
the Beijing Platform for Action and its Regional and Global Outcomes
7-10 September 2004
by
Task Force on Women with Disabilities Thematic
Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWG-DC)
On behalf of the Task Force on Women with Disabilities of the
Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns (TWG-DC),
we would like to share concerns of women with disabilities with
all of the distinguished participants at High-level Intergovernmental
Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform
of Action and its Regional and Global Outcomes. The Task Force
is composed by representatives of the Governments, NGOs and concerned
United Nations agencies, aimed at promoting the implementation
of the Biwako Millennium Framework towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free
and rights-based Society (BMF), the regional policy-guideline
for the 2nd Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (2003-2012),
especially, from the view points of women with disabilities.
Women and girls with disabilities face double jeopardy through
their status as women and as a person with disabilities. They
continued to be excluded from access to health care, social protection
schemes, education, employment and enjoyment of all human rights.
According to the BMF, in the Asian and Pacific region, an estimated
400 million persons with disabilities live, of which more than
40 per cent live in poverty and less than 10 percent have access
to any form of education. In many countries, unemployment rate
of persons with disabilities are 70 per cent. Though they are
no region wide gender –specific data available in these
regards, one can imagine the extent of conditions women and girls
live in this region.
Women with disabilities face many barriers in realizing their
potential. From childhood, many of them are deprived of their
self-determination, become victims of domestic violence, sexual
abuse in institution and work place. They were denied of family
life. Until not so long ago, it was not so uncommon to hear of
forced sterilization of them, and not given any reproductive care.
Maternal rights of disabled women have been denied due to their
disability. Because of disability, many women cannot get job even
when they are qualified. There are few representatives of women
with disabilities both in women’s organizations and disabled
people’s organizations. Certain cultural practices might
increase the risk of causing disabilities in women.
To solve the problems, mainstreaming of disabled women’s
issues in disability policy and projects, mainstreaming of their
issues in women’s policy and projects, empowerment of women
with disabilities, and demystifying stereotypes against women
with disabilities are essential at the national, regional and
international levels. Establishing reliable data on different
areas of disabled women’s life would support these efforts.
General Recommendation #18 of the Convention of the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman (CEDAW) mentions
need to take measures in the areas of employment, education, health
services and social security for disabled women. Its General Recommendation
24 mentions special attention to health needs and rights of women
with disabilities. The target 3 of the Biwako Millennium Framework,
mentioned above, call Governments in the region to ensure, by
2005, anti-discrimination measures including women with disabilities,
and the Target 5 calls for national mainstream women’s associations
to include, by 2005, women with disabilities as members. We should
like to share that fact that, currently, a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities are formulated,
and issues of women with disabilities are concerns of many Governments
and NGOs.
We, members of the Task Force on Women with Disabilities, would
like to call for further commitments of Governments, in collaboration
with NGOs and UN agencies, to better life of women with disabilities.
We hope the final outcome document of this Meeting will include
these concerns mentioned here, and these concerns become more
visible both at the regional and international arenas. Thank you
very much.
Websites for reference:
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012, Biwako
Millennium Framework http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/disability/index.asp
Human Rights and Disability
http://www.sre.gob.mx/discapacidad/paperunhchr.htm
Women with disabilities
http://www.worldenable.net/women
International Convention on disability
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/adhoccom.htm
Please contact Ms Supattraporn Tanatikom (Chairperson of the
Task Force on Women with Disabilities) at sarahmai@ksc.th.com
or Ms Aiko Akiyama at akiyama@un.org (Coordinator for the Task
Force, UNESCAP) for further questions and comments.
List of the Participants
No. |
Name |
Organization |
Email address |
| 1 |
Ms Farida Yesmin
|
DRRA |
sila@dhaka.agni.com |
| 2 |
Ms Shushira Chonhenchob |
HI |
bkkdd@thailand-hi.org |
| 3 |
Ms Treeyarak Meebutpakdee |
VSO Thailand |
treeyarak@inet.co.th |
