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Your Excellency
Mr. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mohajeed,
Minister of Social Welfare of Bangladesh,
Mr. Shigeru Mochida,
Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP,
Mr. Mikiharu Sato,
Resident Representative of JICA in Thailand,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentleman.
On behalf of the Royal Thai Government, it is
a great pleasure for me to extend a warm welcome to all the
distinguished delegates attending the Seminar for South-to-South
Cooperation for Decades of People with Disabilities: An Orientation
to the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability or APCD.
I wish to commend the Ministry of Social Development
and Human Security of Thailand, the Japan International Cooperation
Agency, the UNESCAP, and the network of disabled persons for
organizing this seminar. This is the third APCD seminar that
Thailand is proud to host on enhancing South-South cooperation
for persons with disabilities. This seminar plays a vital
role in fulfilling the goals of the Asian and Pacific Decade
of Disabled Persons which has been extended for another 10
years from 2003 - 2012.
For the first time, we are privileged to be
joined by participants not only from the Asia-Pacific region
but also representatives from countries in Africa, the Arab
region as well as Latin America and the Caribbean region.
Such a wide range of participation from developing regions
marks an important contribution to the global effort in addressing
the issue of disabled persons. This seminar serves to enhance
cooperation amongst developing regions towards the empowerment
of persons with disabilities and promote a barrier-free society
for persons with disabilities beyond the Asia-Pacific region.
The issue of persons with disabilities is of
global concern. The number of persons with disabilities exceeds
600 million persons of whom 80 percent live in developing
regions. This issue is not only a humanitarian agenda but
also a development issue linked to human rights, human security
and poverty eradication. It is estimated that over 40 percent
of persons with disabilities in developing countries of the
Asia-Pacific are poor. This segment of society would need
to be incorporated into national poverty reduction programmes
to achieve the targets of the United Nations Millennium Development
Goals.
The international community has demonstrated
its political will to address the concerns of the disabled.
The United Nations World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled
Persons of 1982 has laid down effective strategies and support
measures for prevention, rehabilitation and the equalization
of opportunities. The United Nations is now in the process
of drafting a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity
of Persons and Disabilities. Thailand is an active participant
in the drafting process being amongst the Asian members of
the Working Group to prepare the draft text.
In Thailand, the full integration of the disabled
into society is a national agenda. The Thai Constitution has
specific provisions for promoting the rights of persons with
disabilities. The Legislation on Rehabilitation of Disabled
Persons Act of 1991 serves to facilitate the integration of
disabled persons into society and to enhance their potentials
for self-development. It was promulgated as a result of cooperative
effort of government, non-government, and organizations of
the disabled. It includes measures on vocational training,
skill development, as well as providing opportunities for
education, employment and access to community facilities.
We have also embarked on campaigns to awaken public consciousness
of the rights of the disabled to ensure their inclusion in
social and community life. The Thai Government has clearly
changed its policy from a charity-based approach to a rights-based
approach of service provision to persons with disabilities.
Thailand's policies for the disabled gained
international recognition upon receiving the Franklin Delano
Roosevelt International Disability Award in 2001. Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presented
the FDR Award to the APCD. Earlier this week, we were honoured
by the presence of Her Royal Highness for graciously presiding
over the opening of the APCD's new office building.
Distinguished participants,
National efforts are effective when reinforced
by regional initiatives and cooperation. Upon the initiative
of the Thai Government, the Asia-Pacific Development Center
on Disability or APCD was established in 2002 which complements
the plan of action laid down in the Asia and Pacific Decade
of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). The Biwako Millennium Framework
for Action also recognized the APCD as a coordinating agency
for persons with disabilities amongst developing nations in
the Asia-Pacific region. The APCD is an example of a joint
collaboration of the Thai Government with multi-stake holders
as JICA, the UN-ESCAP and non-governmental organizations to
serve as a regional center on disability in developing countries
in the Asia-Pacific.
The APCD has expanded its activities to include
training, networking and collaboration to promote the full
participation and equality of persons with disabilities in
society. An important goal of the APCD activities is to enhance
Asia-Pacific regional networking and collaboration. This includes
forging cooperation with both government agencies, international
organizations and non-governmental organizations.
This seminar is testimony to the value of South-South
cooperation which primarily focuses on economic development.
The APCD has made South-South cooperation relevant to the
disabled. The APCD facilitates inter-regional cooperation
between the Asia-Pacific region, the African region, the Arab
region, and the Latin American and Caribbean countries toward
the empowerment of people with disabilities and a barrier-free
society within our respective regions.
I have confidence in the strength and potential
of the APCD in expanding its regional activities. Through
partnership with multi-stakeholders, the APCD can expand its
cooperation with donor countries including networks of disabled
persons of the developed nations. This concept of partnership
is reflected in the United Nations Secretary-General's Report
"in Larger Freedom" which underscores the role of civil societies
in galvanizing global partnerships on specific issues of marginalized
groups.
Distinguished participants,
Persons with disabilities are far from having
achieved equal opportunities while their integration into
society is far from satisfactory. Public awareness as well
as public action campaigns must be our priority to ensure
that persons with disabilities live their lives as integrated
part of the society. I said public awareness and public action
because awareness alone is not enough. There must be action
at the national, regional and international levels. In my
travels to the provinces throughout the country, I have met
with many disabled persons who proved to be the most able
persons in their own right. They contribute to their own respective
communities as much or if not more than other fellow members
of the community. Physical disability must not inhibit one's
potential to excel. Given the opportunities and the right
facilities, we see them excel academically, socially, economically,
and athletically. I want to see this as a norm not an exception
in all communities. I know that governments, non-government
organizations and civil society and the APCD are expanding
their activities along these lines to enhance the rights of
the disabled. But what I am asking is just one single word
"more".
I just want to see more awareness, I just want
to see more action, and I just want to see more outcome. I
am not asking for anything new but merely for more. Everyone
in whatever capacity should try at least a little more. That
is why when I had the honour to be President of the Fifth
Meeting of the State Parties to the Mine Ban Convention, I
went to the World Bank to break a new ground.
Traditionally, the issue of landmines was perceived
as a security issue. But its consequences on mine victims'
handicap have resounding impacts on their immediate families
and relatives, in their living and in their earnings. Anti-personnel
mine is therefore not simply a security issue but also a social
and economic development issue. I met Mr. James Wolfensohn,
then President of the World Bank, to argue that the World
Bank should no longer regard the anti-personnel mine as a
security issue. Rather it is essentially and equally a development
issue. I was glad that President Wolfensohn was convinced
and agreed on the Bank's partnership to support mine action
in the light of development.
Distinguished participants,
I can never overemphasize the important role
of civil society and NGOs in addressing humanitarian and development
issues and in collaborating with the government. The APCD
is no exception. It has extended its cooperation with developed
economies and other multi-stakeholders. Such partnership would
strengthen its regional activities which in turn could complement
multilateral approaches to addressing the core issues of disabled
persons.
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude
to the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection, and Empowerment
of Vulnerable Groups, Ministry of Social Development and Human
Security, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the
UNESCAP for their support in organizing this seminar.
I wish this seminar all the success in fulfilling
its objectives and look forward to receiving the report of
its outcome. With this remark, I have the honour to declare
open the Seminar for South-to-South Cooperation for Decades
of People with Disabilities: An Orientation to APCD.
Thank you.
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