Revised on 27 Feb. 2017
The name of the society shall be the Asia Pacific Disability Forum Known as APDF
1.2.1 To promote, participate in and evaluate the implementation of the Incheon Strategy which was adopted at the UN ESCAP High Level Intergovernmental Meeting held on November 1 to 2, 2012 in Incheon, Korea for the promotion of the UNESCAP Decade from 2013 to 2022 to make the rights real for persons with disabilities.
With particular emphasis on 10 goals to make the right real:
① Reduce poverty and enhance work and employment prospects.
② Promote participation in political processes and in decision-making
③ Enhance access to the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication.
④ Strengthen social protection.
⑤ Expand early intervention and education of children with disabilities.
⑥ Ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment.
⑦ Ensure disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and management.
⑧ Improve the reliability and comparability of disability data
⑨ Accelerate the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities and the harmonization of national legislation with the Convention
⑩ Advance sub-regional, regional and international cooperation.
1.2.2 To empower persons with disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region;
1.2.3 To provide, exchange and disseminate information on disability related matters to member organizations;
1.2.4 To promote and encourage research and development on disability related issues; and
1.2.5 To promote and advocate for technical and other assistance to persons with disabilities.
1.2.6 To develop collaborative partnerships and close working relationships with the UNESCAP stakeholder consultation on disability, UN Agencies and other regional and inter-regional forums
1.2.7 To undertake such other tasks in relation to persons with disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region as shall be determined by APDF at its General Assembly;
1.2.8 To promote sub-regional activities
2.1.1 International Disability Organizations recognized and active in the Asia Pacific Region through regional or national structures;
2.1.2 National or Multi-National Organizations in the Asia Pacific Region committed to the promotion of the rights, empowerment and welfare of persons with disabilities; and
2.1.3 Other organizations with the objectives of promotion of the rights, empowerment of and services to persons with disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region.
2.5.1 (Responsibilities and Annual membership fee)
① Members have the responsibilities to pay the prescribed annual membership fee and abide by the articles of Constitution, every regulation and resolutions of various conferences.
② In principle, the annual membership fee shall be determined at US$100. However, exceptionally the annual fee can be reduced for two years depending on the circumstances of the member state by decision of executive committee.
2.5.2 (Rights of members and voting right)
① Member organizations(either solidarity or individual organization) have the rights to participate in all of the businesses of this Assembly.
② Member organizations that have paid the annual membership fee can exercise the voting right. However, anyone or any organization who has not paid the annual membership fee for three(3) years or more and has failed to implement the responsibilities of the member shall not have the voting right.
③ Voting right shall be granted on the basis: one vote per one member(country), one vote per an international organization, one vote per each solidarity organization. However, if the solidarity organization wants to more voting rights, it will have within 10% voting rights of total APDF member’s voting rights by the decision of the executive committee, but in this case, the number of voting rights of the organization will be limited up to 10 ones.
2.5.3 (Secession of members) Any member wanting secession from the APDF can secede by expressing the intention of secession.*
① a Chairperson
② two Vice Chairpersons
③ a Secretary-General
④ Immediate Past President
⑤ Immediate Past Secretary General
⑥ a Treasurer
⑦ a Chairperson of each Working Committee
3.5.1 Committee for the promotion of Incheon Strategy
3.5.2 Committee for the promotion of a UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN Disability Convention Committee)
3.5.3 Research & Development Committee
3.5.4 Information Committee
3.5.5 Next Assembly (Conference Committee)
3.5.6 Gender Issues Committee
3.5.7 Children and Youth with Disabilities
3.5.8 Accessible Tourism
3.5.9 Accessibility and Universal Design
3.5.10 Independent Living
① Amendments of the articles of constitution
② Election of the executives
③ Election of the chief member of each practices committee and additional reductions of the practices committees
④ Business plan, budget and settlement of accounts
⑤ Matters regulated in the articles of association to be resolved at the General Assembly
⑥ Matters submitted by the board of directors or the chairperson
4.5.1 The General Assembly is convened by the Chairperson who shall be the speaker.
4.5.2 There shall be a General Assembly every second year with a Conference held in conjunction with each General Assembly.*
4.5.3 (Holding the General Assembly and quorum for resolution) Except for the matters separately determined in this articles of association, the General Assembly shall be held by the attendance of the current member organizations and the issues shall be resolved by a majority of the present organizations.*
7.1.1 If at any General Assembly, it is resolved that APDF should be wound up, the Executive Committee may be authorized to wind up the affairs of APDF. If APDF ceases to operate in terms of the Constitution for a period of more than two years the Executive Committee on its own motion may resolve to wind up the affairs of APDF.
7.1.2 All contracts of service will terminate with 3 months’ notice from the date of passing of a resolution to wind up
7.1.3 After payment of liabilities, any surplus funds shall be distributed to the agency with similar objectives to APDF as determined by the outgoing Executive Committee.
7.2.1 Except in the case of gross personal negligence, fraud or other action for which liability may exist as a criminal offence in the country of the Secretary General, no member of the Executive Committee shall have personal responsibility for actions of the Executive Committee.
7.3.1 Any member of APDF may propose an amendment to this Constitution by giving written notice of the proposed change to the Secretary General, at least six months before a General Assembly, and the General Assembly will consider the proposal and make a decision
7.4.1 This Constitution was agreed at the Inaugural General Assembly of the Asia Pacific Disability Forum held in Singapore on 26th November 2003 and amended at the General Assembly on February 28, 2008 in Dhaka and amended at the General Assembly on October 26, 2012 in Incheon and amended at the General Assembly on November 26, 2014 in Hanoi and amended at the General Assembly on February 27, 2017 in Bangkok.
Signed by the undersigned;
Name Organization Country
