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Pathfinders: Towards Full Participation and Equality of Persons with Disabilities in the ESCAP Region
Social Policy Paper No. 2, 2001
ST/ESCAP/2170

The purpose of this publication is to disseminate and share the many examples and initiatives of good practice that have been undertaken by governmental and non-governmental agencies in the ESCAP region. These examples provide detailed description of the challenges faced, the solutions found and the lessons learned in the implementation of the Agenda for Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. They provide the basis for further inspiration and replication. I would like to express my appreciation for the contribution of the members of the Thematic Working Group on Disability-related Concerns. I extol particularly the initiatives of the non-governmental agencies (NGOs). NGOs are, and always have been, an important partner in the endeavour to achieve equality of opportunity and full participation for persons with disabilities in the ESCAP region.

The case studies presented in this publication reflect an important aspect of the achievements of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons. Many of the case studies describe the impact and improvement in the quality of the daily life of individual persons with disabilities. In his Nobel Lecture, delivered in Oslo, 10 December 2001, the Secretary General of the United Nations enjoined us, as never before, to look beyond the framework of States and focus on improving the conditions of the individual men and women, girls and boys. The focus of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, for the past nine years, has been on improving the quality of the lives of individual men and women, girls and boys with disabilities in the ESCAP region. Some of their stories are presented in this publication.