Report of the Executive Meeting of APDF
Cum Ad-hoc Session of the Working Group
on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2023-2032)
Onsite participation
Online participation
Agenda & Major Discussion
Organizational updates
Financial Status: The meeting received the following reports from Secretariat:
During COVID-19 pandemic, collection of membership fees was suspended. Membership fees if USD100 year will be collected from 2023. Past years’ membership fees will not be collected.
Exceptions may be granted to organizations with financial challenges upon receiving such applications. Members from developed economies are encouraged to make high membership fees contributions.
Notable Upcoming Events
Rehabilitation International Congress in Abu Dhabi (September 23, 2024)
RI Korea (KSRPD) 70th anniversary in Seoul (September 20, 2024)
Planning the General Assembly & Conference 2024
The meeting accepted the offer from Vietnam Federation on Disabilities (VFD) to host the Conference in either November or December, 2024. The meeting further noted that VFD will become the Chair of APDF upon and from successfully hosting of the 2024 Conference.
VFD informed that at least 4 months to apply and receive approval of government support. VFD need a formal letter of acceptance from APCD, with as much details as possible before March 2024.
Secretariat informed that RI Korea will consider as an alternative host and organize the APDF conference during the during the RI Korea 70th Eden Social Welfare Foundation offered to share the experience of hosting international conferences Secretariat will prepare required information and plan possible visit early 2024, after formal letter submitted.
Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation informed that they are positively considering hosting the Conference & GA after 2024.
Input of APDF to ESCAP Working Group Session
*Please refer to the file: APDF Submission to ESCAP_WG_Nov 2023 FINAL.
Interest in how to better coordinate between different national DPOs and APDF to maximize efforts and outcomes with governments Implementation of the harmonization priority a critical action Resource mobilization of committee of experts and independent monitoring mechanism of CRPD through online platform suggested Encouragement of coordination of member states’ independent monitoring mechanism of CRPD
For resource mobilization, ESCAP should consider involving relevant agencies like UNICEF and using their established empowerment programs to lead the way in guiding other organizations that promote youth political participation to collaborate with DPOs
Member state should provide more focus and special attention to better support persons with developmental disabilities
Political rights and meaningful participation of PWDs under Guardianship protection needs specific mention
Emphasis on educational institutions and digital literacy to strengthen political participation, political rights under guardianship and specifically extra accommodations for developmental disabilities
‘All/important life categories’, ‘digital inclusion’ and physical spaces (expanding areas included) should be focus of considerations for accessibility and (mandatory) universal design standards
Ministry should facilitate rewarding or penalizing private enterprises who hire more or less PWD in industry
Greater encouragement for development of products for PWD consumers
Consumption needs of PwDs, assistive technology (untapped product & services market) and digital literacy (untapped pool of skilled workers using IT to add value) should be emphasized
Community based rehabilitation is critical concept that needs to be reference more, especially for medical and early intervention training
Greater consideration of Disaster risk reduction (how to minimize disproportionate effects of climate change, pandemic, war, etc. on PWDs) planning/support guidance
DPOs must be included in humanitarian funding projects for disaster recovery and prevention planning; community-based and driven initiatives should take priority in decision-making
Important to leverage experience of private sector clinical research standards but with social rights-based model focus
Meeting Closing and Invitation to join Zoom for ESCAP Working Group Session November 8-9, 2023 forwarded
| UN ESCAP ad hoc Working Group Session Addendum |
ESCAP approached the onsite APDF attendees to address some of the comments and suggestions from the final APDF Submission document.
Several additions and wording choices suggested by ADPF for the Operational Guide were identified as potentially contentious or provocative for government representatives and member states.
ESCAP indicated their inclusion in the final version or discussion at the Working Group session may result in certain member states being hesitant to accept the Operational Guide despite it not being a binding agreement.
There is also a corresponding ESCAP ‘Working Document’ which could include many of the suggestions and would be utilized for the practical implementation of the priorities outlined in the Operational Guide and Jakarta Declaration by ESCAP.
Along with a final review of the APDF members’ comments during the November 7th meeting which found some suggestions to already have been included or too country-specific for the generalized language in the Operational Guide, this offline meeting with ESCAP resulted in some points not being raised as interventions during the course of the Working Group discussions.
[Post meeting notes from Chairman: Chairman congratulated Reena Lee for being elected as Co-Chair of the Working Group, and she chaired a highly professional and successful full session. John Lee also made significant input during the interaction times, and his opinion was highly valued by Working Group participants. Chairman also congratulates APDF members and their inputs had been consolidated into an opinion paper submitted to the Secretariat of the ESCAP Working Group. APDF was the only member who submitted written input for the Working Group Session. Chairman, Reena and John had an in-depth exchange for two hours during the lunch on the first day with Cai Cai, Division Head of ESCAP, on our input.
