ASEAN Disability Forum

Inauguration of "ASEAN Disability Forum"

Workshop on the Participation of Thai Disability Community

to Develop a Better Life of Persons with Disabilities in Southeast Asia

through ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

 

 

1.      Date and Venue

1.      Date: 18 and 19 September 2011 (Sunday-Monday)

2.      Venue: Centara Grand at Central World, Bangkok, Thailand

3.      Accommodation: All Seasons Hotel Bangkok Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand

 

2.      Background

1.      On 30 November and 1 December 2010, Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific (DPIAP) organized an informal consultation on ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) in Jakarta, Indonesia.  The meeting was attended by the individual experts from different sectors, including disabled people's organizations (DPOs), their parents' organizations and international donors.  This discussion was followed by the Jakarta Declaration adopted on 2 December 2010 at the Regional Conference on ASEAN and Disability.  This Declaration reads as follows:

 

1.      ASEAN Disability Forum should be established as a joint effort of multi-stakeholders, including ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member states, international development agencies, civil society organizations (CSO), media, business sector, academic groups, disability related organizations and disabled people's organizations (DPO) and their family organizations.

2.      ASEAN Disability Forum will organize its inaugural meeting in 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand and will have annual meetings with the participation of multi-stakeholders

 

2.      In November 2010, ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) was held in Brunei Darussalam.  This meeting adopted the 2^nd Strategic Framework for Social Welfare and Development (2011-2015).  ADF is positioned as a part of disability policies, especially under GO-NGO Forum.

3.      Indonesia government proposed a declaration on disability to be adopted by the 19^th Bali ASEAN Summit this November.  Thai government also proposed the proclamation of the ASEAN Decade of Persons with Disabilities at the same summit.  It is highly expected that this Declaration will mention ASEAN Disability Forum as a vehicle of ASEAN Decade.

4.      ASEAN Secretariat, however, suggests that ADF should gain accreditation of ASEAN.  With accreditation as a registered Civil Society Organization, the performance of ADF will be strengthened and more influential to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

5.      Considering these circumstances, it is quite significant to organize the Preparation Committee on ASEAN Disability Forum just before SOMSWD meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.  As well, it is also effective and useful to organize national seminar to build capacity and raise awareness of disability community in Thailand, utilizing this opportunity.

 

3.      Objectives

1.      To discuss and share the idea of Disability and ASEAN

2.      To inaugurate ASEAN Disability Forum

 

 

4.      Expected outcome documents

1.      Bangkok Declaration on the Inauguration of ASEAN Disability Forum

2.      Members of the initial Steering Committee members of ADF

3.      Terms of Reference of ADF

4.      ADF Plan of Action until 2013

 

5.      Preparation Committee members criteria

1.      Organizers select committee members, as individual experts, based on nominations from disability community of each country:

1.      Nominations from nationwide DPOs

2.      Participants in the informal consultation meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 1-2 December 2010

3.      Participants in the Workshop for Capacity Building of Self-Help Group of Persons with Disabilities in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2010

4.      Others, if necessary.

 

6.      Expected participants

1.      Full member

1.      ADF Preparation Committee members (10 persons)

2.      Representatives of CDPT and other DPOs in Thailand (approx. 50 persons)

2.      Observers

1.      ASEAN Secretariat

2.      ASEAN Member States

3.      International development agencies and donors

4.      Civil society organizations

5.      Disabled persons' organizations and organizations of parents/family of persons with disabilities

6.      Organizations for persons with disabilities

7.      This meeting is open for all the stakeholders who are interested in this movement.

8.      Especially, Thai disability community is encouraged to observe and participate in the discussion.

3.      Secretariat

1.      Disabled Peoples' International Asia-Pacific Regional Office based in Bangkok, Thailand

 

* DPI- AP will cover the airfare, accommodation and DSA for preparation committee members (one from each country), including their personal assistants.

 

 

7.      Principles of the meeting

1.      Respect for democracy and person-centered approach

2.      Decision-making based on consultation and consensus

3.      Accountability and transparency to all the stakeholders